New Data from ‘Lifesaving’ Fruit & Veg Prescription Scheme makes strong case for Neighbourhood Plan Investment in Barnsley

A pioneering fruit and veg prescription in Tower Hamlets has delivered powerful results, improving physical health for 8 in 10 participants and cutting GP visits by 15%. Now, Alexandra Rose Charity is urging Neighbourhood Boards to take note as the Government prepares to invest £1.5 billion in the UK’s most deprived areas, including Barnsley.

Alexandra Rose Charity is working in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council and the Bromley By Bow Centre to provide families on low incomes with access to fresh fruit and vegetables. The charity has been supporting communities to eat better since its 2014 ‘Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg’ project and, more recently, its two ‘Fruit & Veg on Prescription’ projects.

Based in London, one project operates in Lambeth, to the South, and another operates in Tower Hamlets, in the East End. The Tower Hamlets project is now set to enter its third year of funding from Tower Hamlets Council.

With fruit and vegetable prescription schemes among the Government’s pre-approved interventions for its upcoming ‘Plan for Neighbourhoods’, Alexandra Rose Charity hopes its Tower Hamlets model can inform future rollouts when funds are released in April 2026.

Jonathan Pauling, Chief Executive at Alexandra Rose Charity, said: “The Government has recognised the role of voucher projects in reducing child poverty and tackling health inequalities. This is a major milestone. We know that access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables can transform diet and health outcomes for families on low incomes.

“By including voucher projects like ours in its Plan for Neighbourhoods, the Government is taking an important step towards making healthy food more accessible for those who need it most.”

Alexandra Rose Charity, in partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre, delivers the Fruit & Veg on Prescription scheme in Tower Hamlets as part of a broader social prescribing service. Health professionals and Social Prescribing Link Workers issue weekly Rose Vouchers to people on low incomes with diet-related health conditions. These vouchers are collected from the Bromley by Bow Centre and used to purchase fresh, healthy food at local markets.

Since 2022, 140 people have been prescribed Rose Vouchers. The results of recent data analysis shows that access to weekly fruit and vegetables has improved the physical health of 8 out of 10 of these participants.

In addition, 54% of participants experienced improved mental health, attributed to their need to worry less about money for food – and feel more supported in their community.

Self-reported GP visits have reduced by 15%, with patients experiencing a better diet, thanks to greater access to fruit and vegetables. 78% of participants met their ‘5 a day’ target after nine months of ‘Fruit & Veg on Prescription’, compared to 32% at the start of the project.

Aggie, a participant from Tower Hamlets, said: “When I got the Rose Vouchers for fruit and veg, I thought, ‘Brilliant, I don’t have to worry about food – at least I can still eat’. It was lifesaving for me.

“The food choices I’m making now are forever. Before I started receiving Rose Vouchers, I was feeling awful – I’d found out I had Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol. It’s been a complete lifestyle change; I could never go back.”

The ongoing project, delivered by Alexandra Rose Charity, in partnership with Bromley by Bow Centre and funded by Tower Hamlets Council, is part of a social prescribing service that provides bespoke support to people with health and wellbeing challenges by connecting them with a Social Prescribing Link Worker.

The National Academy for Social Prescribing defines social prescribing as ‘connecting people to activities, groups and support that improve health and wellbeing’.

Aggie said: “Before I had the support of my Social Prescribing Link Worker at Bromley by Bow Centre, I was struggling to leave the house. But now, I’m part of a business enterprise group and I’ve set up a business selling banana bread in the community.

“A lot of the positive changes that have happened have come off the back of me having access to fruit and veg and the support I received from the centre.”

In Tower Hamlets, only 27% of adults eat the government-recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Alexandra Rose Charity also found that 80% of participants said they were skipping meals to make food last longer at the start of the project. Nine months on, this number has reduced to 30% and has had a big impact on physical health too.

Access to a healthy diet is a key determinant of health. Before joining the project, 80% of participants were suffering from at least four symptoms of poor nutrition, such as fatigue, trouble focusing on tasks, sleep issues, fainting spells, and gut and digestion problems.

87% of participants now report a range of health improvements, including less sickness and stronger immune systems, higher energy levels and healthy weight loss. 43% of participants also reported an improvement in their blood sugar levels whilst 59% reported better digestion. 

More than 3,500 Social Prescribing Link Workers have been employed within primary care teams and GP practices across England, processing over 2.7 million referrals to date. The personalised approach taken by Link Workers ensures that each person’s unique needs are met, enhancing the role of community resources in supporting patient health.

Cllr Sabina Akhtar, Lead Member for Health, Adults and Social care at Tower Hamlets Council, said: “It’s been truly heartening to hear local people share how much this programme has made a real difference to their everyday lives. By partnering with Alexandra Rose Charity and the Bromley by Bow Centre, we’ve been able to keep building on a project that’s shaped by the community itself – tackling food and nutrition challenges whilst also giving local shops and businesses a well-deserved boost.”

“Aggie’s story is one of many that shows how a small change, such as access to fruit and veg, can transform lives – improving health, reducing isolation, and building community,” Jonathan added.

“Social prescribing projects like ‘Fruit & Veg on Prescription’ should be used as a national blueprint for success and rolled out on national scale to support those affected by poor diet. We’re excited for the project’s third year at Tower Hamlets and the opportunity to help even more people eat healthier.”

Alexandra Rose Charity is looking forward to working with local partners to ensure the Government’s ‘Plan for Neighbourhoods’ funding is used effectively to bring fresh fruit and vegetables within reach of more communities.

Find out more and get in touch here: https://www.alexandrarose.org.uk/