Officials at Nottinghamshire County Council have urged eligible families to make use of a support scheme and claim free foods. They say more than 1,000 eligible families are currently missing out.
More families are feeling the strain of cost of living pressures, yet 1,458 families who are eligible for free fruit, vegetables and milk are not claiming the support.
The Healthy Start Scheme offers financial support worth £4.25 each week to pregnant woman and children who are four or under in low income families, in addition to all pregnant women under the age of 18. This money can be used to buy foods, and for those not breastfeeding it can also be used on infant formula.
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Eligible families who have a baby under the age of one can receive £8.50 a week. Councillor Matt Barney, cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: “We know things are tough for families right now, so we’re urging more people to make use of this fantastic scheme.
“We want to give every child the best start in life. Good nutrition is so important in those early years and Healthy Start can help families access healthy food, as well as reduce the pressure on their household budgets.
"Almost 1500 families who could use the scheme in Notts are currently missing out. So please check to see if you’re eligible and let your friends and families know about the scheme too.”
Families that are eligible will be sent a Health Start card with money on it that can be spent in any store that accepts Mastercard. Benefits will then be added on to the card every four weeks.
The card can also be used to collect free Healthy Start vitamins for during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and free vitamin drops for babies and young children up to four years old. Vitamins are also available from many of the council's Children's Centres. To find out if you're eligible go to www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Nottingham City Council has also announced that they will be offering supermarket and energy vouchers to vulnerable households this winter as part of the funding they received from the Household Support Fund.
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