Leeds: Council fears 3,000 families will miss out on free food scheme

Leeds City Council said almost 3,000 households could be missing out on a free food scheme.

Healthy Start is an NHS scheme that helps women who are pregnant or have young children and receive benefits.

Those who qualify receive a prepaid card that allows them to buy milk, fruit and vegetables.

The council said around 8,000 families in the city could be eligible, but only 68% of them are using the scheme.

Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, public health and active lifestyles, said: “The Healthy Start scheme is there to help families increase the amount of fruit and vegetables they eat and to give their children a great start in life. .

“We know that a good diet during pregnancy and in the early years of life is essential to prevent disease and to ensure that children reach their full potential for growth and development.”

To qualify for Healthy Start, people must be at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of 4 and be in receipt of a range of benefits such as Income Support or People’s Allowance income-based work.

Those under 18 and pregnant also qualify, even if they are not on benefits or tax credits.

In Leeds, 24.6% of children live in families on relatively low incomes, according to council figures.

Victoria Eaton, director of public health at Leeds City Council, said it was important to ensure “every child in Leeds has the right conditions for the best start in life”.

“The Healthy Start scheme can be a lifeline for many pregnant women and families with children under 4 in Leeds, acting as a nutritional safety net and enabling them to buy more milk, fruit and vegetables and claim vitamins.”