Received from: BDA
Congress is concerned that the Healthy Start voucher scheme is not being properly managed or promoted.
Healthy Start is a means-tested scheme available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for all women who are pregnant under the ages of 18, as well as pregnant women and their children four years or younger who are on a low-income meeting certain eligibility criteria. Pregnant women and children over one and under four years old receive one £3.10 voucher per week which could buy two litres of semi-skimmed milk, 1kg of carrots, 900g frozen peas and four apples at a typical discount supermarket. Children under one year old can get two £3.10 vouchers (£6.20) per week.
Congress notes that charities and health groups, including the British Dietetic
Association, have warned Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt
Hancock that low-income women and children in over 130,000 households are missing out on £28.6m of free fruit, vegetables and milk due to poor promotion of the Healthy Start voucher scheme.
Congress calls on the General Council to demand that the government boost
promotion of the Healthy Start voucher scheme, which can be worth up to £900 per child over the first four years of life.
British Dietetic Association