Pregnant women and families with young children facing financial difficulties are being encouraged to take advantage of a new program designed to help them buy nutritious food and formula.
The Healthy Start Scheme, recently launched at the Springbank Community Food Pantry in Cheltenham, is aimed at supporting expectant mothers and families with children under four who qualify for benefits.
Eligible families will receive a Healthy Start card, which can be used at various UK stores and at the Springbank Community Food Pantry.
Councillor Victoria Atherstone noted that only 60% of eligible families in Cheltenham have signed up for the scheme.
“The Healthy Start Scheme provides essential support by ensuring that expectant mothers and families with young children have access to healthy food and formula,” said Atherstone, who is the cabinet member for safety and communities at Cheltenham Borough Council. “We hope that by offering this scheme at the Springbank Community Food Pantry, we can reach more families and help them obtain nutritious food.”
The initiative is a collaboration between Cheltenham Borough Council, Feed Cheltenham, Feeding Gloucestershire, Aspire Foundation, Springbank Community Group, and John Lewis.
Faith Rooke-Matthews, Director of Operations at Springbank Community Group CiC, expressed enthusiasm about the new program: “We are thrilled to bring this scheme to our pantry and support our local community with access to healthy food. We are grateful to Feed Cheltenham and Feeding Gloucestershire for their crucial role in launching this initiative, alongside No Child Left Behind.”
