West Lancashire Borough Council - Expression of Interest for Food insecurity project

The health consequences of household food insecurity are long term, severe and expensive. We are looking to commission an organisation to analyse and measure food insecurity in West Lancashire so that we can be clear about who is affected and can target policy and resources on prevention.

The scope of the brief will be as follows;

• To establish a better understanding of who is using food banks in the Borough and to provide insight into potential gaps in access to them or gaps in accessing sufficient welfare support.

• To evaluate the socio demographic and household characteristics of households in the borough subject to food insecurity creating a clear understanding of the local picture. • To understand the severity and chronicity of household food insecurity and how often people are receiving assistance from food banks and other supporting agencies • To establish the economic status of those facing insecurity • Establish and asses the current support and provision already available in the Borough to address the issues. • To consider the health implications of those living with food insecurity.

In addition the following will need to be considered,

• The steps the Borough can take to prevent food inequality. • How the Borough can make the best use of the services and approaches already available and respond more effectively. This will include looking at a range of services in the local area. • Identify opportunities for communities across the borough to grow their own food, either through the Community Food Growing network, West Lancashire Allotment Federation, primary and secondary schools. • How community centres and voluntary organisations can support the local Birchwood Junk Food Cafe model and divert supermarket waste food from landfill. • How the Borough can invest in longer term sustainable solutions. This will look at what more can be done to make people less reliant on food banks and alternatives. • Identify prevention opportunities through financial inclusion and other initiatives. • To identify long term sustainable models to prevent food insecurity.

The Council is looking for potential suppliers from to express their interest in the opportunity. Following expressions of interest the Council may approach relevant providers to formalise a quote for the work required.

Consultants should able to provide the Council with the following;

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to co-ordinate inputs from other consultants to inform the overall economic and financial impact. • Technical expertise and problem solving skills with the ability to identify practical, cost effective solutions and provide a clear explanation of any options. • Suitably qualified and able to use both quantative and qualative data.

As part of the process we anticipate the establishment of a series of stakeholder workshops with different stakeholder groups to develop an understanding and commence the check and challenge process and share emerging findin

Additional information: Our Vision

To be a council which is ambitious for West Lancashire - our Economy, Environment and for Health and Wellbeing

We are ambitious for our economy, and for inclusive growth in West Lancashire, retaining and growing good quality jobs, increasing skills levels and encouraging business and wealth generation.

This is matched by our ambitions for a good quality, clean, built and physical environment, and for ensuring the conditions are in place for people in West Lancashire to live healthy and fulfilling lives. These ambitions are reflected in the priorities and key projects that have been identified. Our Values

Collaborative - working in partnership to benefit West Lancashire, being open and involving in the way decisions are made, and adopting a co-ordinated 'one Council' approach Empowering - valuing and developing communities and employees to take responsibility for solutions, and to make the most of our local assets Enterprising - being innovative and creative, delivering lasting improvements and ongoing efficiencies to bring the Council to a sustainable position Equality - promoting equality and seeking to reduce inequality Focussed - being strategic and prioritising the things that make the biggest difference to our communities Proud - of West Lancashire as a place to live, work, visit, and invest Our Priorities

Deliver tangible and visible improvements in the borough, by:

Completing the current review of the Local Plan Developing new and improving leisure facilities as health and leisure hubs Delivering retail, housing and public realm improvements with a focus on Skelmersdale Town Centre Establishing a Development Company Creating the Moor Street Gateway Implementing the Route Optimisation Round Review and associated projects Implementing the Clean and Green Service structure and deliver the new service standards

Engage and empower our local communities, by:

Delivering the Master Plan for Tawd Valley park, subject to resources Seeking the asset transfer of existing leisure facilities in North Meols Delivering digital inclusion initiatives Implementing the Health and Wellbeing Strategy including involvement with the Integrated Community Partnership

Actively promote the borough as a great place to live, work, visit and invest, by:

Promoting the Council's role and West Lancashire's achievements including through digital communications Engaging businesses and communities to enhance and promote Ormskirk and the wider West Lancashire visitor economy Engaging with Liverpool City Region, Lancashire authorities and key decision makers Enhancing and promoting Skelmersdale and the wider West Lancashire business economy

Delivering our priorities

West Lancashire Borough Council is ambitious for West Lancashire. We are committed to important projects that will benefit the borough and everyone who lives and works here. For information about the key projects that will deliver our priorities please view the Council Plan. Details about how we manage performance can be found on our Performance Management pages. Stay connected with future tender opportunities by visiting:

The Chest www.the-chest.org.uk Contracts Finder www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk Tenders Electronic Daily https://ted.europa.eu