High hopes for Healthy Start to voucher call

A DERBY councillor is spearheading a campaign to get eligible pregnant women or those with children under four to take up their entitlement to Healthy Start vouchers - after numbers accessing them have fallen during the pandemic.

In Derby, less than half of the those entitled to claim have been doing so and this led Councillor Joanna West, left, to raise the issue at a meeting of Derby’s full council.

Previously, there was up to 80% take-up in Derby, but this had fallen to 67% before dropping most recently to 49%.

Currently Healthy Start vouchers are worth £3.10, this will rise to £4.25 in April, and they are worth more in stores including Central England Co-operative, Co-op Group and Sainsbury’s.

They can be used for nutritional items such as milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, dried and tinned pulses, and infant formula milk. Those entitled to the vouchers can also get free vitamins.

Ms West said: “We have a duty to make sure Derby residents know about these vouchers. At the full council meeting, I asked for an online campaign that will continue until there is at least a 75% take-up so our young people can have the best start in life.

“I am delighted cross-party support was given to this motion, it shows how important this is to Derby.”

Following a recommendation from the National Food Strategy, and campaigning by Marcus Rashford, the Government has committed to increase the value of the vouchers from April. Ms West added: “It was resolved by the council to run an active online promotional campaign for Healthy Start Vouchers, starting in the first quarter of 2021, ideally in conjunction with relevant health and care providers.”

You qualify if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and you or your family get: Income Support; Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year; Pension Credit; or Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family.

You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits.