HAF Toolkit for parents and carers

Helping Hand may be able to support people experiencing immediate financial hardship because of an unexpected expense or a reduction in income.

You may be eligible if you:

• live in Buckinghamshire
• have a low household income and limited savings
• are at immediate risk of hardship

Telephone: 01296 531151

Online support

• Apply for a Helping Hand Crisis Payment
• Find help with food, bills and household costs

Community fridges, food pantries and other local food support services are available across Buckinghamshire.

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the NHS Healthy Start scheme.

If you are eligible, you will receive a Healthy Start card with money added every 4 weeks. You can use the card to buy:

• plain cow's milk
• fruit and vegetables
• pulses, such as beans, lentils and chickpeas
• infant formula milk based on cow's milk

You can also get Healthy Start vitamins and vitamin drops for babies and young children.

Parents and carers could receive more than £1,200 in financial support during a child's first 4 years.