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Healthy Start: The Use of Welfare Food Vouchers by Low-Income Parents in England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2015

Patricia J Lucas ,
Tricia Jessiman  and
Ailsa Cameron
Patricia J Lucas
Affiliation:
School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol E-mail: patricia.lucas@bristol.ac.uk
Tricia Jessiman
Affiliation:
School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol E-mail: tricia.jessiman@bristol.ac.uk
Ailsa Cameron
Affiliation:
School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol E-mail: a.cameron@bristol.ac.uk
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Abstract

The Healthy Start scheme provides food welfare to pregnant women and children under four years old in the UK. The Government provides vouchers to families living on a low income that can be exchanged for infant formula, plain cow's milk and fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. This article reports on a qualitative study of parents using Healthy Start in England. Interviews were conducted with 107 parents from thirteen areas in England. Most found the scheme easy to use, but some vulnerable groups were unable to access the scheme. The vouchers provided a vital source of food at times of crisis, and put purchase of fruit and vegetables within reach for some. Parents reduced stigma by using self-service tills and by only visiting retailers known to accept the vouchers. Healthy Start provides additional protection by sitting outside of other social security benefits. To continue to provide this essential protection, their value should be reviewed and increased.

Keywords

Food welfarehealthchildfamilypoverty

Information

Type
Themed Section on Hunger, Food and Social Policy in Austerity
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , July 2015 , pp. 457 - 469
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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