Cumbria Healthy Start scheme

Eligible families in Cumbria are being encouraged to apply for free vitamins and help with the cost of food and milk as part of the Healthy Start scheme. 

The Healthy Start scheme has two elements to it: 

Support with the cost of food

The first element is a prepaid card worth up to £8.50 per week to spend on fresh produce such as cow's milk, fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables, infant formula milk and fresh, dried, and tinned pulses. 

Free vitamins

The second element offers free vitamins to pregnant women and mothers for up to six months after birth (if breastfeeding or dual feeding) as well as vitamin drops for children up until the age of four. Vitamins for pregnant women will initially be distributed by Midwives and Health Visitors during their early visits. 

All families in Cumbria with children under the age of two will be able to collect 8 weeks' supply of children's vitamin drops from many community venues (see list of available community venues below) across the county- and it can be a different venue each time you need to pick up a new supply. Families with children aged between 2-4 years will be able to collect theirs from the same community venues using their Healthy Start pre-paid card.  

Access the Healthy Start Scheme booklet (PDF 552KB) for community venues that are distributing the vitamins.

To apply for the healthy start prepaid card, visit the NHS website. You can also find out more about the Healthy Start scheme on the Healthy Start website. 

If you're struggling with the rise in the cost of living, visit cumbria.gov.uk/costofliving to find out how to access a range of advice and support.

To be eligible for the Healthy Start prepaid card, you must be in receipt of certain benefits:

If you get Universal credit, you can apply online if:

  • you're at least 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old
  • your family's monthly 'take-home pay for this period' is £408 or less from employment

If you get Child Tax Credit, you can apply online if:

  • you have at least one child under 4 years old

  • your family's annual income is £16,190 or less

You can apply by email or phone if you're at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get either:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks if your working hours, or your partner or carer's, go to less than 16 hours per week)

You can also apply by email or phone if you're at least 10 weeks pregnant and either:

  • under 18 years old and not getting any benefits
  • getting Child Tax Credits and your family's annual income is £16,190 or less
  • getting income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply by either:

Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Find out about call charges.