What our community researchers heard about food and the cost of living impact on communities in OX4
Download (PDF 1.42 MB)Summary of report content
This report captures the views of 166 people living in the OX4 area of Oxford about the impact of the cost of living and experiences of receiving community food support services.
It has been produced by community researchers Hassan Sabrie and Mujahid Hamidi with support from Healthwatch Oxfordshire.
Hassan and Mujahid are members of Oxford Community Action (OCA), which since 2020 has been running an emergency food distribution scheme, which sees volunteer community members packing and distributing up to 300 bags of food to households across the OX4 area once a week.
Hassan and Mujahid wanted to understand more about the challenges their communities face in terms of the impact of the cost of living. They also wanted to hear about people’s experiences of receiving community food support services and to identify solutions to help improve support.
What did they hear?
People told them that accessing community food support services helps them to:
- Manage the cost of living – by saving money and helping to feed their families.
- Feel part of the community – by enabling them to meet new people and make friends. Helping out with the food distribution service also gives people the chance to ‘give back’.
- Support their health and mental health – by relieving stress, reducing isolation, and encouraging healthier eating and choices.
Recommendations include:
- Improved awareness, information and support on managing the cost of living for people using community food services.
- That information about support is more accessible and culturally appropriate, and that support services reach out to meet people where they are based.
What has already happened:
- Healthwatch Oxfordshire and OCA have worked with Oxfordshire County Council to support distribution of 600 leaflets to recipients of food services about cost-of-living financial support and benefits available.
- OCA has started on work to set up communal growing spaces in East Oxford.
Healthwatch Oxfordshire will share this report and film with key decision-makers in Oxfordshire. The report and an accompanying film about the work was also presented at the NHS South East CPAR2 regional showcase event in London in June 2024.
Hassan and Mujahid also plan to share their findings with communities in East Oxford along with ongoing feedback about practical action and next steps.
Hassan and Mujahid took part in the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR2) programme, supported by Workforce, Training & Education, NHS England South-East. Healthwatch Oxfordshire helped and supported them with their research and report writing.