If you're pregnant or have children under age four, you may be eligible for Healthy Start vouchers to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and milk at your local supermarket.
But despite the value of Healthy Start vouchers being boosted as part of Marcus Rashford's #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY campaign, over a third of those eligible aren't signed up to the scheme. That means over £1.3 million in food vouchers each week aren't reaching those that need them most.
Take action to end child food poverty now by finding out how much low-income families in your area are missing out on – and what you can do to help.
Data available for England, Northern Ireland and Wales only.
You live in
In your area only
of Healthy Start vouchers are claimed
That means every week
worth of healthy food doesn't reach those who need it
In your local area, pregnant people and children are entitled to Healthy Start vouchers, but the take-up rate is only . That means in your area, at least worth of vouchers for fresh fruit, vegetables and milk go unclaimed every week.
Despite the increase in need caused by the cost of living crisis, take-up of the vouchers is stalling across the country.
One of the easiest ways to help the appalling number of young children going to bed hungry would be to ensure they're accessing the free healthy food they're already entitled to. That's why we've been working with local councils and health bodies to help them promote the scheme and make more families aware of the vouchers.
Too many families are still missing out and going hungry. So will you take action now, and share the latest stats with your local authority?Any questions, comments or feedback? Let us know at mail@foodjusticefinder.com.
NHS Healthy Start food and formula vouchers are an essential way of ensuring the neediest babies, children and pregnant people get the nutrients they need.
But with inflation sending the price of fruit, vegetables and infant formula soaring, many families will struggle even more to get by. Some brands of infant formula have risen in price by as much as 14% in recent months.
Eligible families with a baby under the age of one receive £8.50 a week in Healthy Start vouchers, which they can spend on milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula. But £8.50 of vouchers now won’t even buy a single tin of most infant formula brands.
Over three-quarters of people back raising the value of Healthy Start vouchers in line with inflation, according to the latest polling. Are you one of them? Add your name to this petition now and call on the Government to commit to improve Healthy Start uptake rates and raise the value of Healthy Start vouchers in line with inflation, so that the babies, children and pregnant people who need it most don’t go hungry.
We need as many people as possible to join this campaign. Will you share your support on social media to help us spread the word?
The best way to get as many people involved as possible is to share the campaign on WhatsApp. Press the button below to send a message about the campaign to your friends and WhatsApp groups!