Food support

Find help and support if you are struggling to feed yourself or your family.

If you need urgent help finding food or daily essentials call us on: 0300 373 3300

Free school meals

If you are on a low income, your children may be entitled to free school meals and clothing grants.

To check your eligibility and apply you can:

Free food and activities during the school holidays

Our 'Holiday Activity and Food (HAF)' programme offers hundreds of activities (including a meal) for young people aged 5 to 16 during the school holidays.

Activities are free for families whose children receive benefits-related free school meals, with additional free places also available for young people in particular circumstances. 

Community food outlets and food banks in Westmorland and Furness

Find organisations offering emergency food parcels and assistance for those in need. 

Healthy start scheme

Eligible families in Cumbria can apply for free vitamins and help with the cost of food and milk as part of the Healthy Start scheme. 

The NHS Healthy Start scheme has two elements to it: 

  • You can get help to by food and milk through the NHS Healthy start scheme apply for 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 and fresh, dried, and tinned pulses.
  • free vitamins to eligible pregnant women and mothers for up to six months after birth (if breastfeeding or dual feeding) as well as vitamins for children up until the age of four.

The vitamins will initially be distributed by Midwives and Health Visitors during their early visits and then families will be able to collect them from one of many different Community Venues in our area using their Healthy Start pre-paid card. 

You can apply for the healthy start prepaid card, visit the NHS website.