WellFed Network

The WellFed Network is a collaborative group of healthcare professionals, food growers, and community partners aiming to integrate health and food systems. To join the network or find out more, email ClaireJ@volunteercornwall.org.uk ​You can find out more about WellFed and other health creation networks here .

WellFed Programme

The WellFed Programme is a pilot research initiative supporting individuals at risk of or with early-stage type 2 diabetes by providing them with weekly funded boxes of locally grown vegetables for 12 weeks. ​ Participants receive additional support to use their veg and to make lifestyle changes that could benefit their health and wellbeing, in the form of cooking, growing and food preparation skills. They are encouraged to engage in community food activities to improve social connections, physical activity, and overall health. ​

WellFed began as a small pilot set up by Narrowcliff Surgery with Newquay Orchard in 2023, funded by Cornwall Council Public Health. Positive outcomes for participants included weight loss, reduced diabetes markers (HbA1C) and increased engagement with healthy food. Subsequent small-scale pilots in other areas demonstrated similar benefits and potential.

The current WellFed project began in 2025 and is jointly funded by Cornwall Council Public Health and the NHS. It is evaluating the potential benefits to individuals, the healthcare system, the local food system and communities of widening access to WellFed-type support, through a programme of test and learn pilots in different settings and communities across Cornwall. The current programme builds on the initial pilots, with an offer of enhanced support around cookery skills and community engagement opportunities. ​ 

A robust data and evaluation framework, overseen by researchers from the Universities of Bath and Cardiff, is being used to evaluate impacts, calculate social return on investment, identify barriers, and refine the approach for broader implementation. ​ The ambition is to make the case for wider commissioning and embed the WellFed approach within Cornwall’s wider health creation and neighbourhood health programmes.

To find out more, email ClaireJ@volunteercornwall.org.uk ​

View and download a summary of the WellFed Programme here.

WellFed programme partners and steering group

WellFed is a partnership programme supported and steered by NHS, Public Health and VCSE partners. It is delivered by Volunteer Cornwall. You can find out more about who the partners are below.

Current steering group members

Dr Kath Brown – GP and Partner, Narrowcliff Surgery (Watergate PCN)

Lorraine Long – Deputy programme of care lead for population health, health inequalities and long-term conditions, CIoS Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Matt Sharp – Cornwall Council Public Health

Will Stableforth – Consultant gastro-enterologist and liver specialist, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Mark Wilson – University of Bath

Caroline Verfuerth – University of Cardiff

Paul Critchley – CEO, Active Cornwall

Jo Cadman – West ICA Development Manager, CIoS ICB

Danielle Kirby – East ICA Development Manager, CIoS ICB

Emma Seward-Adams – Social Prescribing Lead, Petroc Group Practice and Narrowcliff Surgery

Isabelle Webb – Health Coach, Petroc Group Practice

Hetty Ninnis – Community Growing Manager, Newquay Community Orchard

Sophie Bailey – Community Growing Development Worker, Sustainable Food Cornwall

Tanya Saker – Climate Resilience Programme Manager, Volunteer Cornwall

Paul Lucock – Programmes and Contracts Director, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum

Katie Kirk – Health Creation Programme Manager, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum

Claire Judd – WellFed Project Lead, Volunteer Cornwall Health & Climate Resilience Team