Since launching last autumn, WellFed Cornwall has supported 47 people living with type 2 diabetes or pre‑diabetes with weekly boxes of locally grown vegetables, practical food skills and opportunities to connect with their community. Early feedback has been very positive, and with more pilots launching this summer, the programme is already showing the difference local healthy food can make.
Background
WellFed is a ‘test and learn’ pilot research partnership between local NHS providers, sustainable food growers, voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSE) and Cornwall Council Public Health.
Each pilot provides people living with type 2 diabetes or pre‑diabetes with a free weekly box of locally and agroecologically grown vegetables, alongside 12 weeks of tailored support. This can include vegetable preparation, growing and cookery skills to build confidence with new foods, as well as opportunities to join community food activities that increase social and nature connection, boost physical activity and strengthen community engagement.
So far, pilots have taken place in St Agnes, Redruth, Penzance, Helston, Camborne, Hayle and Newquay.
Over the coming weeks and months, new pilots will continue to launch from the Isles of Scilly and St Just in the west to Camelford and Liskeard in the east.
As the programme expands, more data are being gathered to evaluate the impact of WellFed and assess the potential return on investment of a wider rollout. Initial findings from the first three pilots will be published in early summer, with a full evaluation of more than 20 pilots due in early 2027.
Better health, wellbeing and connection
WellFed is expected to deliver positive impacts on physical health, including (but not limited to) improved diabetes outcomes, alongside wider gains in wellbeing, confidence and community connection.
Through the programme, the aim is to demonstrate that WellFed, or similar food‑based support models, could offer a powerful way to tackle rising rates of metabolic disease, reduce health inequalities and ease pressure on local health services.
A stronger local food system for Cornwall
By working with local agroecological growers and community food partners, WellFed is helping to show how a wider rollout could strengthen Cornwall’s local food system and support planetary health, with investment in nature and climate‑friendly food production reducing reliance on carbon‑intensive medical interventions and building resilience across communities.
It is still early days, but initial feedback and emerging results are encouraging. Participants from the autumn Redruth pilot have shared their experiences here:
WellFed is delivered by Volunteer Cornwall and is a partnership project involving Cornwall Council Public Health, NHS CIoS, and VCSE organisations including Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF), Sustainable Food Cornwall, Active Cornwall, and a countywide network of delivery partners from organic and agroecological farms to community kitchens and community hubs.
For further information, visit WellFed – Health and Climate Resilience | Volunteer Cornwall or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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