A voucher scheme that allows low income families to buy fruit and veg from local markets or retailers has expanded into Liverpool.
The Alexandra Rose Charity, which runs the Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg project, won funding from the Big Lottery Fund and social charity Esmée Fairbairn to expand.
The project works with local children’s centres to identify families who could benefit from the scheme. The vouchers are worth £3 per child (or double if your child is under one year of age) and can only be redeemed for fresh fruit and veg from participating retailers.
In Liverpool the scheme is working with local community company ‘U R What U Eat’, which runs fresh stalls in Liverpool hospitals as well as mobile fruit and veg buses that visit areas of the city where easy access to fresh healthy food is difficult.
It will initially run in partnership with Granby & Belle Valle Children’s Centres and will support up to 240 families with hopes that it will expand to other centres and retailers in the city.
“We are delighted to be bringing the Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg project to Liverpool,” said CEO of the Alexandra Rose Charity, Jonathan Pauling. “It’s all about early intervention - preventing diet related health problems and supporting children from the youngest age to enjoy a healthy life.
“Children’s centres benefit by making contact with families and the money goes directly into the pockets of independent retailers – supporting a healthy, local, food economy. Above all, children get access to healthy food which parents might otherwise not be able to afford.”
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Malcolm Kennedy, said: “The Rose Voucher project is a great way to tackle childhood obesity and food poverty in our city. It not only increases the amount of fresh fruit and veg that families consume but it also puts money back into Liverpool’s food economy supporting local jobs and improving access for all.”
