Highlights
- A pioneering fruit and veg prescription project has delivered powerful results, improving physical health for 8 in 10 participants and cutting self-reported GP visits by 15%.
- Following the release of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, Alexandra Rose Charity is urging the Government to roll out Fruit and Veg on Prescription schemes nationwide to tackle health inequalities and deliver preventative, person-centred care.
- London-based projects operate in Lambeth, to the South, and in Tower Hamlets, in the East End
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.
The 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.
Between October 2022 and July 2024, 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 eight out of 10 of these participants.
In addition, 54 per cent of participants experienced improved mental health, attributed to their need to worry less about money for food – and feel more supported in their community.
Aggie, Bromley by Bow Centre - Photo by Bil Snaddon
“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,” said Aggie, a participant from Tower Hamlets.
“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.”
Self-reported GP visits have reduced by 15 per cent, with patients experiencing a better diet, thanks to greater access to fruit and vegetables. 78 per cent of participants met their “five a day” target after nine months of “Fruit & Veg on Prescription”, compared to 32 per cent at the start of the project.
Dr Jennifer Walmsley, practising GP at Kingthorne Group Practice, said: “I’m a huge advocate for the work that Alexandra Rose Charity is doing. Diet is key and Rose Vouchers make eating healthier food much more accessible.
Dr Jennifer Walmsley
“As GPs, we spend a significant amount of time dealing with the effects of poor diet and nutrition – I’d say more than anything else, in fact – because the majority of chronic diseases stem from those issues.
“Any steps we can take to improve diets and reverse those consequences are hugely beneficial. Not only does it enhance individual health and wellbeing, but it also helps ease pressure on the NHS, allowing GPs to focus on areas of care that aren’t preventable.”
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’.
“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,” Aggie added.
“Before I had the support of my , 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.”
Getting to five a day
In Tower Hamlets, only 27 per cent of adults eat the government-recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Alexandra Rose Charity also found that 80 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent 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.
“When someone’s struggling with low mood, one of the first things I like to address is their lifestyle and diet,” adds Social Prescribing Link Worker Eleanor. “I’ll ask how they eat every day, what they have for breakfast, lunch and dinner and identify some of their unhealthy habits. I encourage a lot of my patients to have more fruit and veg because nutrition plays a huge role in mood and mental health.”
87 per cent of participants now report a range of health improvements. 60 per cent also reported an improvement in their energy levels, whilst 59 per cent reported better digestion.
Alexandra Rose Charity CEO Jonathan said: “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.
“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 programme’s third year at Tower Hamlets and the opportunity to help even more people eat healthier."
Following the release of the Government’s 10- Year Health Plan, with a clear emphasis on prevention, neighbourhood-based care, and reducing pressure on the NHS, Alexandra Rose Charity hopes its Tower Hamlets model can serve as a blueprint for future rollouts of fruit and vegetable prescription schemes across the country.
Find out more and get in touch here: https://www.alexandrarose.org.uk/
