Uplift

Firstly just a reminder that since April the vouchers are now worth £4.25 and for beneficiaries this means the following:

• A £4.25 voucher provided each week of their pregnancy (from 10 weeks)
• 2 vouchers, worth a total of £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year
• A £4.25 voucher each week for children between 1 and 4 years old

Visit our Foodwise Leeds page to see our updated video outlining the scheme: https://foodwiseleeds.org/healthy-start/

Retailers

Some supermarkets are continuing to add value to the vouchers including Co-Op (topping up Healthy Start vouchers by £1) , with Sainsbury’s and Iceland extending their offers until August.  ( Sainsbury’s are giving a £2 coupon towards their next shop whilst Iceland are offering a free bag of frozen veg when a Healthy Start voucher is used).

Website

The Healthy Start website has now been relaunched and can be accessed via the same URL as before. Do check it out if you haven’t since the rebrand: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Digitalisation

From June (this month) beneficiaries will begin receiving communication from Healthy Start about the digitalisation of the scheme. This communication will give details of when they will be able to apply online to the new scheme.

By late summer paper applications will no longer be accepted and by October all beneficiaries will need to apply online. It is important to note, due to the significant changes to the scheme ALL existing beneficiaries will be required to reapply for the scheme.

Support for those without digital access

Healthy Start will have a telephone number with agents able to assist . For those where interpreters are needed, they will be able to utilise an interpreting service whilst they are on the call.

For further information or to be added to a regular updates on the scheme straight to your inbox, please contact Esther Bissell, Foodwise Leeds on esther.bissell@zestleeds.org.uk or through Zest on 0113 240  6677

Zest