THOUSANDS of families in County Durham and Darlington are thought to be missing out on valuable free food support, figures show.

Just two-thirds of families eligible for free food vouchers in County Durham and Darlington are claiming them.

Footballer Marcus Rashford has called on health professionals to boost awareness of the Healthy Start scheme, which helps pregnant women and struggling families with young children buy basic food.

NHS data shows, in the four weeks to July 18, 3,854 people in County Durham were receiving vouchers from the scheme, which are worth between £4.25 and £8.50 a week and can be spent on healthy fruit and vegetables, milk or baby formula.

They represent just 66 per cent of those identified as eligible for the benefit, with the figures showing there may be another 1,982 families in the area missing out on valuable support.

In Darlington, 768 people in Darlington were receiving vouchers, with another 401 families missing out.

Across England and Wales, 59 per cent of those eligible for the scheme were receiving the support they were entitled to during the period.

READ MORE: Quarter of pupils in Darlington receiving free school meals

In a letter published in the British Medical Journal, England player and campaigner Mr Rashford, a member of the Child Food Poverty Taskforce, urged health professionals to spread the word about the scheme.

The letter said: "The scheme has proven benefits in improving access to healthy food for pregnant women and children under the age of four.

"More than 40 per cent of those eligible for the vouchers are still not registered for the scheme and I'm confident that the majority of these parents can be found in communities just like mine, where I grew up – no internet, no high street, no word of mouth."

It comes after The Northern Echo revealed more than a quarter of County Durham and Darlington pupils are receiving free school meals as thousands more became eligible during the pandemic

The Food Foundation says a lack of awareness, complexities with the application process and a "postcode lottery" of public health promotion have contributed to a stark disparity in uptake.

A spokesman for the charity, which recently found that 14 per cent of UK families with children had experienced food insecurity in the six months to September 2020, said uptake was "worryingly low" and meant a significant number of families were missing out on support.

However the Department of Health and Social Care said the Government is committed to ensuring every child receives the best possible start in life.

An online application form is being developed as an alternative to the current postal system and will be introduced along with a payment card to replace paper vouchers.

Joining Marcus Rashford in calling on health care professionals to play "a vital role in actively encouraging awareness in communities", he added: "Many simply haven't heard of the scheme.

"And then of course there is the issue of stigma, many young families just feel embarrassed about being perceived to rely on benefits or hand-outs."

 

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