Stall holders on Bury Market are taking part in a new scheme to help visitors provide their families with nutritious and affordable food.

Under the NHS Healthy Start scheme, people who are pregnant or have children under the age of four, can receive help towards milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and formula.

Healthy Start cards will be accepted at Ward’s Fruit & Veg, Iddon’s Fruit & Veg and Tom’s Bargain Corner on Bury Market.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, welcomed the scheme adding that she was “delighted” that the council and Bury Market were working together to improve access to good quality food.

She said: “We know how much the cost of living is affecting families, especially with the rising cost of food.

“No child deserves to go hungry and the Healthy Start scheme is targeted to make sure children have a good start in life.”

“Promoting Healthy Start at Bury Market helps local families, but also supports the local economy as the cards are redeemed directly with small local businesses.

“This partnership encourages people who might not have thought of the market as a possible location for their food needs to find out just what is on offer.

“Making Healthy Start provision go as far as it can, and connecting people with produce through promotion of the scheme, forms part of The Bury Food Partnership’s work, to strengthen our local food system and provide good food for all.”

Healthy Start at Bury Market is being administered locally by Bury Food Partnership, following a successful funding application to Sustainable Food Places.

The Healthy Start cards are said to be worth around £442 per year to the average family in Greater Manchester.

To find out if you could be eligible for Healthy Start visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk.

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