Providing healthy meals for children - The Healthy Start scheme
Nutrition is a key factor in maintaining health. Compared to other children in Europe, British children are up to 7 cm shorter than children of the same age in Europe. A lack of quality of food in their prenatal and early years could be stunting the growth of children in the UK. [1]
The Healthy Start Scheme is designed to help people on a low income access healthier foods to support their children to get the best start in life. Those who are over 10 weeks pregnant, or have children under 4 and claim income based benefits can gain access to a scheme to a prepaid card system.
Currently only 59% of those who are eligible for the scheme in the Wigan borough are benefiting from it. That's 1,435 people who are missing out on the essential support that the scheme offers. Money is tight for many and the Healthy Start scheme is a way to maximise income to make healthy food more accessible.
The prepaid card can be used in registered retailers. Most UK shops that sell healthy food and milk and accept Mastercard should accept the card.
Every 4 weeks, the money is added to the card.
From the 10th week of the pregnancy - £4.25 each week
From the child’s birth to their 1st birthday - £8.50 each week
From the child’s 1st birthday to their 4th birthday - £4.25 each week.
What's an example of a £4.25 shop?
Milk - ASDA Just Essentials Semi Skimmed Long Life Milk 1L - £0.69
Veg - ASDA Crunchy & Sweet Carrots 500g - £0.35
Fruit - ASDA Crisp & Juicy Watermelon Slices 95g - £0.50
Frozen veg - ASDA Just Essentials Mixed Vegetables 1kg - £0.99
Pulse - ASDA Just Essentials Chickpeas 400g - £0.45
Tinned veg - ASDA Garden Peas in Water - £0.55
Tinned fruit - ASDA Peach Slices in Fruit Juice 411g - £0.70
Total - £4.23 as of 13/06/2024
Money doesn’t have to be spent each week, so the money could be saved up for the purchase of infant formula.
Who is eligible?
Those eligible for the scheme must be at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a British child under the age of 4.
You must be also receive any of the following:
Child Tax Credit (with an income of or less than £16,190)
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-based Employment Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Universal Credit (with take home pay of £408 or less per month from employment)
You are also eligible for Healthy Start if
you’re under 18 and over 10 weeks pregnant - you don’t have to be claiming benefits
You or your partner receive Working Tax Credit run-on only
If you are not a British citizen but your child is, you are eligible for the scheme so long as:
You have at least 1 British child under 4 years old
Your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
You cannot claim ‘public funds’ either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status
What could you get?
✔ Plain cows milk
✔ Fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables
✔ Fresh, dried and tinned pulses
✔ Infant formula milk based on cows milk
✔ Tinned fruit in fruit juice or water
✔ Tinned vegetables with no added flavours
❌ Fruit smoothies
❌ Tinned fruits in syrup
❌ Tinned vegetables with added salt, fat and oil
❌ Flavoured, condensed or plant based milk
❌ Pre-cooked fruit
Healthy start vitamins are also available and you will be sent a voucher every 8 weeks which you can swap for vitamins.
If you’re receiving a qualifying benefit and are pregnant or have parental responsibility for at least one child under the age of 4, you can apply online now for the NHS Healthy Start card
If you are under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant, you will need to call the NHS on 0300 330 7010 and provide:
your baby’s due date
a copy of your birth certificate
your NHS number
your National Insurance number
