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Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four and you receive benefits, you may be able to get help to buy healthy start food and milk. You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t receive benefits.

The Healthy Start scheme provides you with a pre-paid card to spend with local retailers and gives you access to free multi-vitamins if eligible. Visit the NHS Healthy Start website  to find out more.

 

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you could get help to buy healthy food and milk and items like:

  • fresh, tinned or frozen fruit;
  • vegetables;
  • pulses (lentils and beans);
  • cow’s milk;
  • and first infant formula.

If you are eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in supermarkets and other grocery stores.

Healthy Start add your Healthy Start money onto this card every four weeks. Find out if you are eligible to receive these benefits.

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you could get help to buy healthy food and milk and items like:

  • fresh, tinned or frozen fruit;
  • vegetables;
  • pulses (lentils and beans);
  • cow’s milk;
  • and first infant formula.

If you are eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in supermarkets and other grocery stores.

Healthy Start add your Healthy Start money onto this card every four weeks. Find out if you are eligible to receive these benefits.

You will get money added onto your card every four weeks to spend on certain food and milk.

  • £4.25 per week if you are pregnant (from week 10)
  • £8.50 per week for each baby under the age of one
  • £4.25 per week for each child aged between one and three
  • Free vitamins

You will get money added onto your card every four weeks to spend on certain food and milk.

  • £4.25 per week if you are pregnant (from week 10)
  • £8.50 per week for each baby under the age of one
  • £4.25 per week for each child aged between one and three
  • Free vitamins

If you are under 18 and pregnant, you will qualify even if you do not get any benefits.

If you are under 18 and pregnant, you will qualify even if you do not get any benefits.

You can use your Healthy Start card in most places that sell milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. This includes:

  • supermarkets
  • convenience stores
  • grocery stores
  • drug stores and pharmacies
  • markets
  • dairy products stores
  • news dealers and newsstands
  • freezer and locker meat provisioners (such as butcher shops)
  • petrol stations

They must display a Mastercard® symbol. The symbol is normally shown on the shop door or at the till. Ask an employee inside the shop if they take Mastercard if you’re unsure.

If you try to spend the money anywhere else, the card will be declined. For example, you cannot use your card at a fast food restaurant.

You can use your Healthy Start card in most places that sell milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. This includes:

  • supermarkets
  • convenience stores
  • grocery stores
  • drug stores and pharmacies
  • markets
  • dairy products stores
  • news dealers and newsstands
  • freezer and locker meat provisioners (such as butcher shops)
  • petrol stations

They must display a Mastercard® symbol. The symbol is normally shown on the shop door or at the till. Ask an employee inside the shop if they take Mastercard if you’re unsure.

If you try to spend the money anywhere else, the card will be declined. For example, you cannot use your card at a fast food restaurant.

In Gloucestershire, all children under the age of four and all pregnant and breastfeeding women and up to one year post-natal are eligible for free Healthy Start vitamins.

The process of receiving Healthy Start vitamins is detailed below:

  • The Healthy Start multi-vitamins are distributed by the children's and families hub
  • Apply for your Healthy Start card
  • Once you receive your card, take a photo of your Healthy Start card
  • Send a photo of your the card to HealthyStart@gloucestershire.gov.uk, detailing which vitamins you need with your name and address
  • You will receive a confirmation email explaining that we have received your email
  • Your Healthy Start multi-vitamins will then be sent to you in the post

Please note that no money is taken from your Healthy Start card for the multi-vitamins.

The vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children.

Children will receive vitamin A, C and D in liquid form. Women will receive Vitamin C, D and folic acid in tablet form.

In Gloucestershire, all children under the age of four and all pregnant and breastfeeding women and up to one year post-natal are eligible for free Healthy Start vitamins.

The process of receiving Healthy Start vitamins is detailed below:

  • The Healthy Start multi-vitamins are distributed by the children's and families hub
  • Apply for your Healthy Start card
  • Once you receive your card, take a photo of your Healthy Start card
  • Send a photo of your the card to HealthyStart@gloucestershire.gov.uk, detailing which vitamins you need with your name and address
  • You will receive a confirmation email explaining that we have received your email
  • Your Healthy Start multi-vitamins will then be sent to you in the post

Please note that no money is taken from your Healthy Start card for the multi-vitamins.

The vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children.

Children will receive vitamin A, C and D in liquid form. Women will receive Vitamin C, D and folic acid in tablet form.

💻 Healthy Start NHS website
📞 Customer Enquiries Line: 0300 330 7010
📞 Self-Service Phone Line: 0118 338 5810

📧 healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

 

Speak to your midwife, health visitor or social prescriber at your GP surgery who can provide further support or signposting.

NHS Healthy Start communications toolkit for professionals

Here you’ll find a range of promotional materials designed to help you raise awareness of the NHS Healthy Start scheme.

The toolkit includes:

  • Digital and social media assets
  • Printable resources such as posters and leaflets

All materials are free to download and use.

If you have any questions about promoting the NHS Healthy Start scheme, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority communications team at:
📧 communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk 

 NHS Healthy Start scheme communications toolkit

 

💻 Healthy Start NHS website
📞 Customer Enquiries Line: 0300 330 7010
📞 Self-Service Phone Line: 0118 338 5810

📧 healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

 

Speak to your midwife, health visitor or social prescriber at your GP surgery who can provide further support or signposting.

NHS Healthy Start communications toolkit for professionals

Here you’ll find a range of promotional materials designed to help you raise awareness of the NHS Healthy Start scheme.

The toolkit includes:

  • Digital and social media assets
  • Printable resources such as posters and leaflets

All materials are free to download and use.

If you have any questions about promoting the NHS Healthy Start scheme, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority communications team at:
📧 communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk 

 NHS Healthy Start scheme communications toolkit

 

For more local support and resources around food access and nutrition, visit the Healthy Start section of the Feeding Gloucestershire website.

This page includes:

  • Guidance on how to use your Healthy Start card locally
  • A map of retailers in Gloucestershire who accept Healthy Start cards
  • Information on how to access free Healthy Start vitamins for children and families
  • Support for families to access food

Feeding Gloucestershire works in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and other local organisations to help families make the most of the Healthy Start scheme.

For more local support and resources around food access and nutrition, visit the Healthy Start section of the Feeding Gloucestershire website.

This page includes:

  • Guidance on how to use your Healthy Start card locally
  • A map of retailers in Gloucestershire who accept Healthy Start cards
  • Information on how to access free Healthy Start vitamins for children and families
  • Support for families to access food

Feeding Gloucestershire works in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and other local organisations to help families make the most of the Healthy Start scheme.