Eligible families encouraged to apply as new vitamin collection process launches
03 March 2026
West Northamptonshire Council is encouraging eligible parents, carers and those who are pregnant to apply for the NHS Healthy Start scheme, which provides weekly financial support to help families buy milk, infant formula, fruit, vegetables and pulses. Alongside this, the Council has introduced an improved process for accessing free Healthy Start vitamins by enabling families to collect them directly from their nearest Family Hub.
The Council is working to raise awareness of the scheme among eligible households and ensure more families can benefit from the support available. This includes contacting residents who may qualify based on information already provided for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.
What is Healthy Start?
The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides a prepaid card that can be used in most supermarkets to purchase healthy essentials. Eligible residents receive:
- £8.50 per week for each baby under 1
- £4.25 per week for each child aged 1–4
- £4.25 per week from the 10th week of pregnancy
Families can use the card to buy fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, pulses, plain cow’s milk and infant formula. They can also access free Healthy Start vitamins, which support pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies and young children. More information is available on the Council’s website.
New vitamin collection process
West Northamptonshire Council has introduced a convenient in person collection service for the Healthy Start vitamins. Effective from 16 March during centre opening hours, parents and carers can collect free vitamin on presentation of their Healthy Start card. From this month:
- Vitamins can be collected in person from any West Northamptonshire Family Hub as well as Blackthorn and Thorplands Children’s Centres.
- Family Hub staff are available to help with Healthy Start applications, advice and wider support.
The Healthy Start scheme offers vital nutritional support to families during pregnancy and early childhood. By improving awareness and making it easier to collect vitamins locally, we’re ensuring more families can benefit from this important NHS programme. Vitamins really help to support our bodies in so many ways so it is really important that families are aware why we need vitamins, and where they can access them if needed. Our Family Hubs provide friendly, accessible support, and we encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to get in touch or visit one of our hubs for help with their application.Cllr Laura Couse, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Public Health
Residents can apply directly through the NHS to access the Healthy Start scheme. Apply online or by calling the healthy Start helpline on 0300 330 7010. Families can visit their nearest Family Hub, where staff can provide face-to-face assistance, or contact the team via email on [email protected].