BMBC - FREE FRUIT AND VEG SCHEME WITH ROSE VOUCHERS

The Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project helps families on low incomes to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and supports them to give their children the healthiest possible start.

A family receives £4 of Rose Vouchers for each child, under four years old, every week, or £6 if the child is under one years old. We work with some fantastic market traders in London, Liverpool, Barnsley and Glasgow, where the vouchers can be redeemed for a great selection of fruit and veg.

By working with the market traders, the project also benefits local markets, helping to ensure economic vibrancy through encouraging regular trade, and so maintaining local markets as important sources of healthy low-cost food.

To support families on the Rose Voucher scheme to engage with existing activities focused on health and wellbeing in their local area, distribution of the Rose Vouchers is based at children’s centres.

Staff at the children’s centres recruit those families which stand to benefit most from the vouchers, due to of their susceptibility to food poverty, dietary related health issues or other risk factors. To be eligible for Rose Vouchers families should meet the criteria for the Healthy Start voucher scheme for pregnant women and families in receipt of benefits

Thanks to the dedicated staff across all the children’s centres we work with, over the last seven years over 5,500 families have been able to access more fruit and vegetables in their community.

Through utilising these existing local resources, the Rose Voucher project makes the most of local partnerships to provide the range of support needed to help families lead healthier lives.

We currently work with 4 traders on the market, as well as one greengrocer and market trader in Wombwell and a retailer at Barnsley Hospital.