“I’m so grateful for the Rose Vouchers. To be able to get fresh fruit and veg – it’s amazing. I live really near the market, so it’s easy for me to shop there. The stall holders are brilliant. They’ll help me pick out the ripe fruit and sometimes they cut up different fruit for my daughter to try. They are very friendly and helpful. You get to know people in your community by shopping at the market.
Having the Rose Vouchers means I can buy fresh fruit and veg and try different things we haven’t tried before to see if we like it. There are a lot of things that I wouldn’t buy in the supermarket because of the price, such as raspberries, blueberries, aubergine and asparagus. But I’ll buy these things with my vouchers. Now when my child says they’d like watermelon or papaya, I can buy it. I couldn’t afford this before.
With Rose Vouchers, I don’t have say no. It’s the worst thing having to say no to a child.
I’ve been getting Rose Vouchers since my daughter was 4 months old. She’s now two and I pick up my vouchers from the children’s centre where my daughter is at nursery. With the Rose Vouchers I can buy vegetables to make the same meals at home that she’s tried at nursery and likes. You want to give your children that choice and variety.
I know that I’m lucky as I know not all boroughs have Rose Vouchers. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to introduce fresh food to my child and it saves me money.”