Healthy Start scheme
The Healthy Start scheme provides a prepaid card for eligible applicants which can be used at local shops to buy plain liquid cow’s milk, infant formula milk based on cow’s milk, and fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. Free Healthy Start vitamins can also be provided for those who are pregnant, who are breastfeeding, and children aged from six months to four years. The scheme currently supports around 13,500 households in Northern Ireland.
The Healthy Start website includes information on how to apply.
Background
Healthy Start is a UK-wide scheme providing a nutritional safety net to those who are pregnant and children under four in low-income families in receipt of qualifying benefits. All those who are pregnant and under-18 years of age qualify, whether or not they are in receipt of benefits.
Healthy Start supports public health policies by encouraging breastfeeding and a healthy diet.
DoH is responsible for the legislation of Healthy Start policy in Northern Ireland. The National Health Service Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) are responsible for the administration of the scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Business Services Organisation (BSO) are responsible for the distribution of vitamins to those within NI who are eligible under the scheme.
For more information about how we process your data if you apply to the Health Start Scheme, please see the Privacy Notice below.
Day Care Food Scheme
Under the 'Day Care Food Scheme' all children under five who are in an approved day care setting for at least two hours per day are provided one third of a pint of milk free each day.
DoH is responsible for the legislation governing the Day Care Food Scheme in Northern Ireland. The Business Services Organisation (BSO) administrates the scheme on the department's behalf.
- Healthy Start
- Healthy Start - Do I qualify? How to apply
- Healthy Start - Guidance for Health professionals
- Free resources to promote the scheme
- Information on how to claim vitamins
- Day Care Food Scheme
- nidirect - Free milk, vitamins, fruit and vegetables and infant formula
- nidirect - Nutrition and school lunches
Privacy Notice
Healthy Start Scheme - Privacy Notice
Healthy Start Promotion
NHSBSA have produced a diverse portfolio of Healthy Start communication materials for use by professionals and organisations, in wide range of languages, which can be used to promote the scheme in statutory and community settings. These are available at NHS Business Services News (nhsbsa.nhs.uk).
NI specific versions of some of these are available below.
This material includes graphic images for use on digital platforms.
Any use of the Healthy Start material below (or that on the NHSBSA site) must adhere to NHSBSA brand guidelines.
You could get help to buy food and milk Poster Northern Ireland
Healthy Start Vitamins Poster Northern Ireland
Healthy Start-Apply Online Poster Northern Ireland
Applying online (social media graphic) – Northern Ireland
Benefits of digital scheme (social media graphic) – Northern Ireland
Eligibility Criteria (social media graphic) – Northern Ireland
Check if you’re eligible (social media graphic) – Northern Ireland
Healthy Start: Digital Screen (Get help to buy food and milk) – Northern Ireland
Healthy Start: Digital Screen (eligibility) – Northern Ireland
Healthy Start: Digital Screen (vitamins) – Northern Ireland
