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Get free vitamins and help with the cost of food and milk

Find information about the NHS Healthy Start scheme.

Eligible families in Cumberland are being encouraged to apply for free vitamins and help with the cost of food and milk as part of the Healthy Start scheme. 

The scheme provides a prepaid card worth up to £8.50 per week to spend on fresh produce such as:

  • cow's milk
  • fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables
  • infant formula milk
  • fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

Visit the Healthy Start website for more information.

If you're finding it hard to manage rising living costs, you can get advice and support on our cost of living and welfare support page.

How to apply

To be eligible you must get certain benefits. Details of these and how to apply is on the NHS website.

Apply for Health Start (NHS)

You can also apply by either email or phone.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0300 330 7010

Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Charges may apply.

Get free vitamins with NHS Healthy Start

You may not get enough essential vitamins from food alone.

Young children and babies may need extra vitamin A and D. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you may need more vitamin C, vitamin D and folic acid.

If you get NHS Healthy Start payments, you can get free vitamin products to help.

What you can get

There are two types of Healthy Start vitamins:

  • women’s tablets – for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • children’s drops – for babies and young children

These products contain the recommended amounts of vitamins set by the government.

What’s in the vitamins

Children’s drops contain:

  • vitamin A
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin D

Women’s tablets contain:

  • folic acid
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin D

Healthy Start vitamins do not contain:

  • milk
  • egg
  • gluten
  • soya
  • peanut residues

They’re suitable for vegetarians and halal diets.

Who should take them

Children and babies can take vitamin drops:

  • from birth if they’re breastfed
  • if they’re under 4 years old
  • if they drink less than 500ml (about one pint) of infant formula a day – formula already includes added vitamins

How much you get

Healthy Start vitamins come as an 8-week supply:

  • 56 tablets – 1 tablet a day
  • 280 drops – 5 drops a day

Do not take more than the recommended daily amount.

Where to collect your vitamins

You can collect Healthy Start vitamins from: