Get Cheshire Eating Well Strategy 2026-2031
Overview
A whole-system approach to improving diet, reducing dietary-related inequalities and supporting health from childhood to older age.
Eating well is vital to health at every stage of life. It supports growth and development in childhood, productivity and wellbeing in adulthood, and independence and quality of life in older age.
In Cheshire West and Chester, many residents want to eat well, but their ability to do so is shaped by affordability, access, time pressures, environments, and wider life circumstances rather than knowledge alone.
The Get Cheshire West Eating Well Strategy supports the Cheshire West and Chester Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Our Place Plan for the Borough 2026-2031 and the Cheshire West and Chester Borough Plan.
Eating Well is also an important component of other strategies and plans at a borough level. Strategies and plans of note include:
The Climate Emergency Response Plan aligns closely with the Eating Well Strategy by recognising the links between food systems, health and environmental sustainability. Action to promote sustainable and affordable dietary patterns, reduce food waste, support local food production and increase access to sustainable food choices can contribute to carbon reduction, biodiversity, resource efficiency and wider environmental objectives, whilst also improving population health.
The Food for All Plan provides an important delivery mechanism for many of the ambitions within the Eating Well Strategy. Through its focus on food insecurity, community food provision, dignity, local food systems, food growing and sustainable food partnerships, the plan supports efforts to ensure that all residents can access affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food, whilst addressing wider inequalities and strengthening community resilience.
The Fairer Futures Strategy complements the Eating Well Strategy by addressing the wider determinants that influence dietary health and food access. Its focus on reducing poverty, improving financial resilience, tackling inequalities and supporting vulnerable residents helps create the conditions that enable people and families to eat well, reducing barriers associated with income, transport, housing and social exclusion.
The Cheshire West and Chester Healthy Weight Declaration provides a key policy framework for the Eating Well Strategy. It promotes a whole-systems approach to healthy weight, including action on food environments, planning, procurement, commercial influences, inequalities and community engagement. The Eating Well Strategy contributes directly to a number of Healthy Weight Declaration commitments and helps translate these into coordinated local action across the borough.
The Local Plan supports healthy eating indirectly by improving residents' access to food retailers, services and healthy environments; protecting local centres; promoting active and sustainable communities; and addressing wider determinants such as housing, accessibility and health inequalities.
The Local Transport Plan supports residents to eat well by improving physical access to food retailers, community services and healthcare, particularly for groups at risk of transport-related exclusion. Through enhanced public transport, active travel infrastructure and better connections to local centres, the strategy can help reduce barriers to obtaining affordable, healthy food while also promoting healthier lifestyles.
The Children and Young People's Plan aligns with the Eating Well Strategy through its focus on giving children the best start in life, reducing inequalities and supporting health and wellbeing. Actions relating to infant feeding, Healthy Start, school food, food literacy and healthy weight contribute to improved outcomes for children and families.
The Local Nature Recovery Strategy supports the Eating Well Strategy through opportunities to connect people with nature, increase access to food-growing spaces and strengthen local environmental resilience. Activities such as community gardening, orchards, green social prescribing and biodiversity enhancement can deliver co-benefits for health, wellbeing, sustainability and community resilience.
The Cheshire West and Chester Infant Feeding Strategy supports the ambitions of the Eating Well Strategy by promoting breastfeeding, supporting healthy infant feeding practices and ensuring families receive consistent, accessible support. Through workforce development, community-based support and a strong focus on evidence and evaluation, the strategy seeks to give every child the best possible nutritional start in life and reduce inequalities in early years health outcomes.
