Giving families a healthy start with the NHS Healthy Start Scheme
Making sure young families have access to healthy food and essentials shouldn’t be a struggle. That’s where the NHS Healthy Start scheme comes in! It’s a brilliant programme that helps pregnant people and families with little ones buy nutritious food and get free vitamins.
What’s the NHS Healthy Start Scheme all about?
The scheme is here to give families a hand by providing a prepaid card to help cover the cost of healthy food, milk, and infant formula. You can also pick up free Healthy Start vitamins for you and your children – win/win!
The prepaid card gets topped up every four weeks and can be used in most shops and supermarkets that accept Mastercard®. So, whether it’s fresh fruit and veg, milk, or pulses, you’ve got the basics covered.
Why it’s so important
Let’s face it, giving children a healthy start in life can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. This scheme makes things easier by making sure families don’t have to choose between eating well and stretching the budget. And those free vitamins? They’re there to help you and your little ones stay healthy and strong, especially during pregnancy and those early years.
How It Works
Here’s the lowdown on what you can be eligible for:
£4.25 a week from the 10th week of pregnancy
£8.50 a week for babies under 1 year
£4.25 a week for children aged 1-4
Free Healthy Start vitamins for you and your kids
You’ll need to apply online at www.healthystart.nhs.uk, and if you’re eligible, the card is yours to use in most shops that sell healthy food.
Free Healthy Start vitamins for you and your children can be collected from your local children centres across Barnet. Visit https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/childrens-centres-in-barnet to find your closest centre.
Can You Apply?
If you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have children under 4, you might be eligible – especially if you’re on certain benefits. It’s quick and easy to check if you qualify at NHS Healthy Start.
You can apply and check you eligibility here - How to apply NHS Healthy Start
Let’s Build a Healthier Future
The NHS Healthy Start scheme is a simple but powerful way to help families live healthier, happier lives. By making it easier to access nutritious food and essential vitamins, it’s setting our little ones up for the best possible start in life.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the scheme, don’t wait – check it out and apply today. Together, we can make a big difference for families everywhere!
You can learn more information about giving your children Healthy Early Years here: https://yourhealthbarnet.org/healthy-early-years