Physical Activity and Nutrition Network for Wales

In 2003, after extensive consultation, Food and well-being – reducing inequalities through a nutrition strategy for Wales, was launched, it outlined the action required by key players to improve the diets of people in Wales.

The strategy set out nine recommendations, followed by a series of actions, required by key players. The creation of the Nutrition Network for Wales was a key action identified in recommendation five: 'provide information and training to key players including policy-makers, health professionals and other professionals to tackle poor nutrition in Wales.'

In 2004, the Food Standards Agency Wales commissioned the Wales Centre for Health to carry out a consultation to find out what stakeholders wanted from the network in terms of its scope, purpose, structure and identity. In 2005, the Food Standards Agency then commissioned the Wales Centre for Health to develop and establish the Nutrition Network for Wales, which was formally launched in June 2006.

The Nutrition Network for Wales aims to link with and bring together all those individuals, organisations and sectors with a role to play in improving diet and nutrition in Wales. Nutrition Network for Wales partners include representatives from academia, the community, education, the Government, healthcare, industry, local government, the media, public health and the voluntary sector. The Nutrition Network for Wales supports its partners by providing and improving access to information and by providing a forum for sharing knowledge and good practice, enabling partners to learn from each other. It identifies and disseminates quality assured information, maintains databases of ‘good practice’, provides access to opportunities for learning and professional development, promotes and supports community, local and national inter-sectoral partnerships and identifies and addresses gaps in learning, resources and practice.

At the same time, the Physical Activity Network for Wales was developed by the Wales Centre for Health, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. In 2007, the integration of the Nutrition Network for Wales and Physical Activity Network for Wales websites took place to address cross-cutting issues, particularly obesity.

In late 2008 and early 2009, an external evaluation was conducted on the networks. The evaluation involved desk research, field work, including in depth qualitative interviews with board members over 200 surveys with network members and qualitative interviews / focus groups with network members. The findings stated that outputs (websites, newsletters) have been achieved and members were consistently positive about the information provided, with over 90% rating the reliability, clarity, timeliness and usefulness of information provided on the website as good or excellent. In addition members perceived the networks as important in setting the public health agenda at the point of delivery, with reported impacts on partnership development, translating national policy and impact on work role. The recommendations from the evaluation are being taken forward by the networks.

The website (see link below) contains information about the Nutrition Network for Wales and the Physical Activity Network for Wales, latest news and events, research and evaluation, policies and strategies, target groups, campaigns, community initiatives, sources of funding, workforce development and much more.