TBBT extends Healthy Start Vouchers to all hub locations

• Healthy Start Vouchers now accepted at all TBBT hubs

• This follows successful pilot in Oldham with partner First Choice Home

• Get £35 worth of food for just £3.25

Following a successful pilot with First Choice Homes in Oldham, TBBT is now accepting Healthy Start vouchers at all its hubs spanning the north of England. Eligible pregnant women and families with children under the age of four will be able to spend their Healthy Start vouchers at all of TBBT’s food services. By using their £4.25 Healthy Starts vouchers, they’ll be able to buy £35 worth of food including a great mix of fresh fruit and veg for just £3.25.

“Healthy Start Vouchers are a significant way for people on low incomes to improve the diets of their young families with long-lasting benefits for their futures. TBBT is one of the few charities nationally to be able to accept the vouchers and we really encourage everyone who can to take advantage of this benefit which has such a profound impact on young children’s health,” says Mark Game, TBBT’s CEO.

TBBT puts fresh fruit and veg at the heart of its offering each week. Bags always contain staples such as apples, pears, onions and potatoes but frequently offer more exotic and seasonal items like asparagus, kale or pomegranates. This diversity is key to ensuring that low income families have access to a nutritious variety of food but also have the chance to try new fruit and veg that they can’t normally access – either through prohibitive cost or lack of local supply.

Julie Collin, Nutritionist and Co-ordinator of Hartlepool Food Council said: “For people on low incomes it can feel incredibly hard to afford to eat healthily.  Many people are faced with social issues that place barriers in their way of accessing the variety of food needed for a nutritious balanced diet. By guaranteeing a bag of fresh fruit and veg each week plus a whole host of different ingredients for home cooked meals, TBBT is helping to improve and diversify its members’ diets and allow people to try new foods. The long-term health benefits for families are significant.”

Healthy Start is an NHS scheme to reduce child poverty and health inequalities by providing weekly vouchers to buy nutritious food. It is available for low-income families with pregnant women and children up to the age of four. Eligible families can also receive Healthy Start vitamins. The food vouchers are sent out by post every four weeks and Healthy Start vitamins vouchers every eight weeks. Visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ for further information, to check eligibility and find application forms.

“Statistics show that more than 40% of eligible people have not yet signed up for the Healthy Start vouchers they are entitled to. In some areas that we work in, the figure is as high as 56%,” observes Mark Game. “We hope that by enabling people to spend their vouchers with TBBT, we can encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of the Healthy Start scheme.

“We’re always looking for ways to help our members make their money go further and ensure that we are offering the best possible level of support for our low-income communities. Healthy Start vouchers represent a significant benefit that we encourage everyone who can to take advantage of.”

New members are always welcome to join TBBT. There are no joining criteria. TBBT has over 50 hubs spread across Greater Manchester and the North East. New members can sign up by using the online form at breadandbutterthing.org/members.

New volunteers are also always welcome, especially van drivers and help at TBBT’s warehouses in Trafford, Greater Manchester and Chilton, County Durham. Drop a line to hello@breadandbutterthing.org to find out more.

HEALTHY START ELIGIBILITY

You will qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if either:

·        you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant

·        you have at least 1 child under 4 years old

In addition, you must be receiving any of the following:

·        Child Tax Credit (but only if your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less)

·        income-related Employment and Support Allowance

·        Income Support

·        income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

·        Pension Credit

·        Universal Credit (but only if your family earns £408 or less per month from employment)

You’ll also be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re pregnant and under 18, even if you do not receive any benefits.