Nursery World - Call to increase value of Healthy Start Vouchers

More than 50 public health experts have signed a letter to the Chancellor and health secretary, calling for an increase in the value of the Healthy Start vouchers for low-income families.

The Healthy Start scheme entitles low-income families to vouchers to pay for fruit and vegetables, but has not risen in value since 2009

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

The vouchers are worth £3.10 a week per child, but have not risen in value since 2009.

The letter is calling for the vouchers to increase to £4.25 a week.

Marcus Rashford’s End Child Food Poverty campaign is calling for this, alongside the expansion of free school meals and holiday provision.

These three issues are also key recommendations from the Healthy Food Strategy, which have been adopted by the footballer, whose free school meals petition has been signed by more than a million people.

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