Community Food & Nutrition Workers (CFNWs), funded by HSE Health and Wellbeing, are working alongside disadvantaged communities to improve health and wellbeing in designated Sláintecare Healthy Community areas by addressing poor diet and food insecurity.
CFNWs support individuals, families and community groups experiencing health inequalities. The role recognises that healthy eating is influenced by more than knowledge alone. Factors such as income, housing, food costs, transport, social isolation, local food availability and access to services all affect people’s ability to make healthy food choices.
CFNWs take a community development approach to improving health and wellbeing. By listening to community needs and working in partnership with local multi-sector organisations, they help create practical, evidence-based community-led solutions that support healthier eating behaviour.
The work of CFNWs is diverse and reflects the individual needs of each community. Programmes may include:
- healthy cooking initiatives,
- food budgeting workshops,
- family food projects,
- community kitchens and cafés, growing projects and nutrition education programmes.
Equally important is the work that happens behind the scenes, in collaboration with various community stakeholders, through partnership building, community engagement, capacity building and supporting healthier food environments.
A key focus of their role is to empower communities by growing their capacity by building confidence, developing food skills and supporting local leadership, they help to remove barriers and create lasting change, improving their resilience.
CFNWs contribute to wider Sláintecare goals by supporting prevention of non-communicable diseases, through early intervention, health literacy, food security and community-led solutions. This work aligns with the national healthy eating guidelines and helps bridge the gap between health advice and people’s everyday realities.
Sláintecare Healthy Communities includes a range of targeted health initiatives delivered in partnership by the HSE, local authorities and community delivery partners, funded under the Department of Health, Healthy Ireland.