Princess Alexandra visited Brixton Market and the Maytree children’s centre today (28 June) to see how the Alexander Rose charity’s voucher scheme for fruit and veg is helping families who swap the vouchers for fresh fruit and veg at participating market stalls.
At the Maytree centre she heard from mums and children how the Rose vouchers had improved their diet and made them more adventurous in their choice of food.
Ann Marie (pictured with market traders’ CEO Stuart Horwood) who had her third child four days ago is one of the participating mums.
Mike Morris, the chair of the charity, said. “With the help of our Rose Vouchers, families can afford to include more fresh fruit and veg in their diets and they are reaping the health benefits as a result. That is, quite simply, life-changing”
Stuart Horwood said: “It’s all about getting more families into the market buying good quality fruit and vegetables.”
The Rose Voucher is a partnership with the not-for-profit food policy organisation Food Matters. It is being delivered at seven local children’s centres in Lambeth, with funding from the council’s Food Flagship initiative and support from the mayor of London and the Department for Education. The Market Traders Federation oversees the collection of vouchers from traders.
Working with the local children’s centres, the project identifies families at risk of diet-related ill health and food poverty. The families receive weekly Rose Vouchers to spend at local markets in the borough, alongside support from the children’s centres to develop skills and confidence around food – for instance, taking part in cook and eat sessions.
