If you are pregnant or have a child under the age of 4, you could get Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. This important means-tested scheme provides vouchers to spend with local retailers. Pregnant women and children over 1 and under 4 can get one £3.10 voucher per week. Children under 1 can get two £3.10 vouchers (total £6.20) per week.
Vouchers can be spent on:
- Plain cow's milk - whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. It can be pasteurised, sterilised, long life or UHT.
- Fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, including loose, pre-packed, whole, sliced, chopped or mixed fruit or vegetables. Fruit in fruit juice, or fruit or vegetables in water, but not those to which fat, salt, suger or flavouring have been added.
- Fresh, dired and tinned pulses, including but not limited to; lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas, but not those to which fat, salt, sugar or flavouring has been added.
- Infant formula milk that says it can be used from birth and is based on cow's milk.
Healthy Start vitamins
Women and children getting Healthy Start food vouchers also get vitamin coupons to swap for free Healthy Start vitamins. Healthy Start vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children.
Your midwife or health visitor will be able to tell you where you can swap your coupon for vitamins in your area.
Visit https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ for more information and https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/ to apply.
