ASO signs letter to chancellor endorsing expansion of healthy start scheme

ASO has joined more than 50 public health directors, sector experts and healthcare professionals in signing a letter to Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock calling on Government to allocate additional funding to the Healthy Start scheme which supports low-income families.

The letter urges government to increase the value of the voucher to £4.25 a week. The value of Healthy Start vouchers has not increased since 2009.

The ask is one of 3 key recommendations from the National Food Strategy and footballer Marcus Rashford’s #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign, alongside expansion of Free School Meals and holiday food provision. The ask is also part of Marcus Rashford’s petition which more than 1 million people have signed to date.

The Healthy Start scheme provides pregnant women and low-income families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with children under 4 with free vitamins and food vouchers to purchase vegetables, fruit, pulses and milk.

More information

Clinical Category
Health Promotion
Target Audience
Commissioners of care and other obesity interested organisation representatives
Healthcare professionals