“I tell everyone about the vouchers and fruit and veg on prescription. The job you’re doing is fantastic. They all say it sounds like a good thing. Since I’ve started coming to Bromley by Bow Centre and meeting people, my life has changed so much; I’m happier in myself. I honestly don’t worry about anything now.
I go down to Chrisp Street Market with my vouchers, a brilliant market, with nice people and great food. They have everything there, all the different varieties of fruit and veg. I used to hardly ever eat fruit, now I can’t stop eating it. I’ve lost a bit of weight and I’m sleeping better. I feel healthier.
The other day at a market stall, someone saw all the fruit & veg I was buying and said ‘You’re a healthy eater, aren’t you!’ It didn’t used to be like this. Before the vouchers I’d come home from work, go to the chip shop, or get a kebab, but now I hardly ever have takeaways.
I’ve been to nutrition meetings at the centre, mixing with people and learning new things. It gets you out the house for a few hours and I’ve learnt so much. It’s all good information.
The staff at the centre have helped me in so many ways. I’ve had help with topping up my electricity meter, managed to halve my monthly water bill and now been able to get fruit & veg on prescription. Six months ago I was made redundant. I was stressed. I didn’t know how I would pay my rent. I didn’t know any of this help existed until I had these difficulties.
I’m looking to do things now and try something different, things I’ve never done before. I’m hoping a new community garden project can start soon, so I can help with that. When you’re living somewhere with people giving something to you, you want to give something back.
We can’t thank you enough. Even though it’s just £6 a week in vouchers, to people like myself that’s like £600. It means the world to me.”