Healthy Start

The pandemic crisis has been difficult for many people, in different ways, including keeping an eye on the pounds and pennies in our pockets.
 
Hundreds of Tameside families with children under four could benefit from the financial help available through the Healthy Start Scheme, if eligible, to buy fruit, vegetables, milk and vitamins.
 
Voucher scheme:
The Healthy Start Vouchers can support qualifying families in receiving vouchers worth up to £6.20 a week per child to spend on fruit, veg, milk and vitamins that can be used at local shops to buy milk and fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. The scheme can give eligible families £6.20 per week (two lots of vouchers worth £3.10 each per week) in the first year of a child’s life.  When a child is between one and four years old families can receive one voucher worth £3.10 each week.
 
 The vouchers can also be exchanged for free Healthy Start vitamins for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children aged from six months to four years.
 
Before coronavirus, families needed to completed PART A of their application form themselves and then get a registered health professional to complete and sign PART B. The welcomed change to this process now means that PART B no longer needs to be completed, signed or stamped by a health professional. Applicants just need to complete their application form (PART A, sections 1-7) and send this off for verifying and processing.
 
If families are struggling to access the application form as they cannot print it or struggling to complete it- they can call the National Healthy Start Scheme helpline, 0345 607 6823. The call handler will complete the application form with the applicant over the phone and they will then print the completed application form out and send it to the applicant (along with a freepost envelope) in the post awaiting their signature. The applicant will then need to send their signed application form off in the post using the freepost envelope that was sent out with the application form.
 
With many of our families potentially experiencing more financial and food insecurity than before, the Healthy Start Scheme could really support and benefit eligible families.
 
Find out if you are eligible to apply for Healthy Start Vouchers which can be spent at local shops in Tameside. The application process is simple and no longer requires a signature or stamp from a healthcare professional.
 
For more information please visit: www.tameside.gov.uk/healthystart