TAMESIDE residents who have previously accessed the Healthy Start Voucher Scheme and those who are currently receiving paper vouchers to buy produce from local shops are being encouraged to take part in an online survey.
The survey will capture people’s experiences of using the scheme which provides vouchers worth up to £6.20 a week per child to spend on fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, milk and vitamins. The scheme is eligible to those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and they or their family get: Income support; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Child Tax Credit (with a family income of £16,190 or less per year); Universal Credit (with a family take home pay of £408 or less per month).
Feedback from the survey will allow The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to review and shape the future of Healthy Start.
People will not be asked to include any personal or identifiable information. All the information provided will be treated as strictly confidential and individuals will not be identifiable in any report written.
Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Population Health at Tameside Council, Councillor Eleanor Wills, said: “We need as many people as possible in Tameside who are using or have used the vouchers in the past to complete the survey which should only take around ten minutes to complete. We need to gain a varied view of the current Healthy Start Scheme to see where improvements can be made.”
To find out more about the scheme and to take part in the survey visit https://www.tameside.gov.uk/