Earlier this month, we welcomed journalist Victoria Cook and a BBC London film crew to Tower Hamlets to cover a story close to our hearts, Fruit & Veg on Prescription. The filming coincided with the launch of Year 3 of this innovative project, and it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the impact it’s having on local people’s health and wellbeing.
Victoria began the day at the Bromley by Bow Centre, where she met with Dr Saul Marmot, a GP at the on-site Health Centre, and Layla Shirreh, the Bromley by Bow Centre’s Social Prescribing Lead. They both spoke passionately about how access to fruit and vegetables through Rose Vouchers is helping patients to better manage diet-related health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
Dr Marmot explained how the project offers a “prevention-focused, community-driven approach” to healthcare, supporting people long before they end up in crisis. Layla spoke about the importance of addressing health in a holistic way:
“We can’t look at health in isolation; there are always other factors we need to consider.”
Together, they painted a clear picture of how food access, community support, and social prescribing can transform lives.
Later in the day, we joined Aggie, a participant in the project, at Chrisp Street Market, where she spends her weekly Rose Vouchers. With her trademark warmth and candour, Aggie shared her story with Victoria, describing the project as “life changing”:
Since joining the project, Aggie has made huge strides: improving her diet, building connections in her community, and even setting up her own banana bread business. Being able to access fresh, healthy food every week has given her the tools and the confidence to take control of her health and future.
You can watch Aggie tell more of her story here:
- 15% reduction in GP visits (self-reported)
- 80% of participants reported improved physical health
- 54% reported improved mental health
- 78% met their ‘5 a day’ target, up from 32% at the start of the programme
By supporting people with food-related ill health and embedding the scheme within a wider social prescribing approach, the project shows how neighbourhood-based, preventative care can work in practice and ease pressure on NHS services in the process.
We’re so proud to have shared this work with BBC London, and we’re excited for what’s next as we enter the third year of the programme. Huge thanks to Victoria Cook, our colleagues at the Bromley by Bow Centre, Tower Hamlets Council, and most of all to Aggie for sharing her inspiring story. You can watch the full BBC London feature here:
