Healthy Start Card

Pregnant women and families with children under the age of four may be eligible for Healthy Start payments.

The Healthy Start card is used like a debit card; it has weekly top-ups and can be used at any shop that accepts Mastercard.

Eligible parents will be sent a pre-paid Healthy Start card that can be used to buy the following:

• plain liquid cow's milk
• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
• infant formula milk based on cow's milk.

The card will be topped up every four weeks.

Healthy Start Vitamins

Women who are trying to conceive, women who have a child under the age of one, and all children under the age of four, who are registered for a Healthy Start card, can also receive free vitamins. In Camden and Islington, these free vitamins are offered universally, regardless of whether they receive a Healthy Start card or not. 

The vitamin tablets for women contain folic acid and vitamins C and D. The drops for children contain vitamins A, C, and D. These vitamins are essential for the health and development of mother and child.

Bengali and Somali Audio Messages (Camden)

Camden Public Health has worked with local community volunteers to co-produce a couple of audio messages in Bengali and Somali languages to raise awareness about the scheme. These audio messages are a way to support people by making them aware of the scheme, eligibility, size of financial aid, and support information. 

Visit Camden Council's YouTube channel (links below) to listen to Nazia, a Bengali Family Lives volunteer or Amina, a Somali Early Years volunteer talk about the NHS Healthy Start scheme. 

How to Refer