An innovative social prescribing initiative in Tower Hamlets is helping residents on low incomes improve their health by linking them with weekly vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables.
Delivered by Alexandra Rose Charity in partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre and funded by Tower Hamlets Council, Fruit & Veg on Prescription supports people with food-related health issues, such as Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol, by addressing the root cause: poor access to healthy food.
Participants are referred through the Bromley by Bow Centre’s established social prescribing model, where Link Workers provide personalised, holistic support.
Eleanor Curry, a Social Prescribing Link Worker, said: “When someone’s struggling with low mood, one of the first things I look at is diet. Rose Vouchers can be a simple but powerful step toward building confidence and making lasting changes.”
The latest evaluation findings show:
- 87% reported improved physical health
- 54% experienced better mental health
- GP visits fell by 15%
- The number meeting their 5-a-day fruit and veg target rose from 32% to 78%
This approach shows how a small intervention, delivered through social prescribing, can strengthen communities and transform lives
The project is also reducing food insecurity. Before joining, 80% of participants were skipping meals; nine months later, that figure dropped to 30%, alongside reported increases in energy, improved immunity, and healthier weight.
Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive Officer at the National Academy of Social Prescribing, said: "Many of the challenges that affect our health and wellbeing, such as poor diet, social isolation, or financial stress, cannot be addressed by medicine alone. Social prescribing offers a vital bridge, connecting people with the support they need to live healthier, more fulfilling lives."
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 vegetables and the support from the centre.”
Jonathan Pauling, CEO of Alexandra Rose Charity, hopes it will inspire similar models elsewhere: “This approach shows how a small intervention, delivered through social prescribing, can strengthen communities and transform lives.”
