Parents urged to give their children a Healthy Start

Healthy Start is the national NHS-led scheme that supports eligible families to buy healthy food and milk for children under four – but over £750,000 of funding is not being claimed in Liverpool, with an estimated one in three eligible families in England missing out.

Eligible families, as well as eligible women who are at least ten weeks pregnant, can apply for a card which is topped up every four weeks with funds that can be spent on plain milk, fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables, tinned or dry pulses, and infant formula. The card also allows pregnant women and parents to access free Health Start vitamins.

The Healthy Start card can be used with any retailer that accepts Mastercard and also in community food spaces as well as the Queen of Greens mobile greengrocer.