New health improvement project

The Centre is working in partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on a new project that helps people on low incomes through our social prescribing service; it can help increase their spending power to be able to make healthier food choices and source fruit and vegetables in the local economy from traders at local markets.

Figures from the Food Foundation’s Broken Plate report show that the poorest fifth of UK households would need to spend 47% of their disposable income on food to meet the cost of the Government recommended healthy diet.

This joint project, funded by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is designed to improve local population health. It will deliver nine healthy lifestyle monthly group sessions to build knowledge and connect with others, supporting local residents in two equal cohorts. For those eligible, weekly Rose ‘fruit and veg’ vouchers are being provided for up to nine months with additional smaller weekly Rose Vouchers for each member of the household for the same period.

The support is accessed via our social prescribers and includes a minimum of two one-to-one sessions to help identify other areas of support each person may require access to.

We agree with Dr Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health, London Borough of Tower Hamlets when he commented:

“We are delighted to be collaborating with the Alexandra Rose Charity. This scheme not only increases access to fruit and veg but also supports local businesses and improves the health and wellbeing of residents.”

For more info visit the Alexandra Rose Charity website.

Bow Foodbank runs on site at the Bromley by Bow Centre on Monday’s from 8am to 12.30pm.

For other support please contact our welcome hub by email: connect@bbbc.org.uk or phone: 020 8709 9700.