If you're pregnant or have children under 4, 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, the take-up of the vouchers by those eligible is plummeting across the country.
New data shows that despite food poverty increasing across the country, over £1 million worth of food vouchers each week aren't reaching those that need them.
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 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 women and children were entitled to Healthy Start vouchers at the start of 2021, but the take-up rate is only . That means in your area, at least worth of vouchers for fresh fruit, vegetables and milk will go unclaimed every week when the vouchers increase in value from 01 April.
Despite the increase in need caused by the pandemic, take-up of the vouchers is falling across the country.
In total, over £1 million of vouchers for healthy food are going unclaimed in England each week. 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. Will you take action now, and ask your local authority to aim for a 100% take-up rate of Healthy Start vouchers and do more to promote the scheme to eligible families?
Any questions, comments or feedback? Let us know at mail@foodjusticefinder.com.
Your local [council type] council is [council name].
Councils, with their direct connection to their local communities, can have a transformative effect in promoting Healthy Start. Many councils around the country have already done brilliant work to promote the scheme, but we need every council in England to be working towards 100% uptake.
Will you email your council leader now to share the stats on Healthy Start in your area, and provide easy suggestions on how they can promote the scheme? We have already provided a short pre-written email, which you can edit if you wish!
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!