VFB 2013 - Grants and Vouchers - An SMEs experience of Innovation Vouchers
Healthy start vouchers in Birmingham - Food Foundation€¦ · Healthy Start Vouchers in Birmingham...
18
Healthy start vouchers in Birmingham Dr Sandra Passmore, Childhood Obesity Consultant Public Health Birmingham (and Senior Adviser, Services for Education, Birmingham) Andrea Walker-Kay, Senior Officer Public Health, Birmingham
Transcript of Healthy start vouchers in Birmingham - Food Foundation€¦ · Healthy Start Vouchers in Birmingham...
Healthy start vouchers
in Birmingham
Dr Sandra Passmore, Childhood Obesity Consultant
Public Health Birmingham (and Senior Adviser,
Services for Education, Birmingham)
Andrea Walker-Kay, Senior Officer
Public Health, Birmingham
Context in Birmingham
• Population of 1.1 million people
• 42% of residents from ethnic group other than white.
• 46% of residents aged under 30 years old.
• 40% of residents live in areas described as most deprived
10% in England.
• Approx 17,500 live births each year.
Healthy Start Vouchers in Birmingham
• Approx 17,000 eligible beneficiaries
• Approx 70-75% registered so 4,250 - 5,100 people unregistered
• Each voucher worth £3.10 per week.
• Assuming 2 vouchers per week per person the underclaim = £1.4m - £1.6m per year for the city
Action Plan
1. Increase registration of eligible beneficiaries
2. Increase usage of HSV by parents and especially of children aged over 2 years old
3. Increase numbers of retailers registered and accepting HSV
4. Increase range of outlets registered and accepting HSV
Problem with HSV
• No one locally monitors the whole system
– Health visitors/midwives register woman (birth)
– Woman receives vouchers
– Shops register to accept vouchers
– Woman spends voucher in shop
– Shop claims money back
Increase registration of eligible beneficiaries
• Who comes into contact with women who are/may be eligible for HSV?
– Health Visitors
– Family support workers
– Housing Association
– link with Financial Inclusion strategy
– Free 2 and 3 year old early education entitlement
– Early Years settings, schools
Increase registration of retailers
• Database from DH of which retailers are, or who have been, registered to accept HSV
• Segmented database into
– Currently accepting HSV
– Used to accept HSV but stopped
– Registered but never accepted HSV
• Also segmented database into
– Large supermarkets
– Small supermarkets
– Pharmacies
– Newsagents
– Markets
– Corner shops
– Wine/liquor shops
– other
Interviews with retailers
• Public health team went to selection of retailers to ask them about their experiences, thoughts, recommendations
Insights from retailers
• Nothing to advertise HSV in shops or outside shop
• Also poster to say what HSV can be used for (not just milk)
• Staff turnover, staff training
• Would prefer ‘card’
• Problem of no change for customers
• Damaged/damp vouchers
• Wait until £150 to claim
Bullring Fruit and Veg markets
• Lots of traders registered but apparently never accepted voucher but…
• Voucher used against rent for stall
• Stall holder turnover
• Non English market stall holders
• No signage etc
Bullring Fruit and Veg market
• Letter sent out re HSV and use against rent
• Developing signage for stalls
• Future ideas
– £3.10 veg box
Association of Convenience Stores
• Working to develop promotion of HSV
• Promote point of sale promotion materials
• Increase awareness and use
• Increase registration
Promoting with retailers
• Staff training DVD (Aldi)
• Point of sale promotional materials
• Register every retailer
Lidl
• Working with University of Birmingham School of Health Economics
• Looking at customer behaviour
• Linking use of HSV –match funding with Lidl voucher
Increase other outlets registering
• Allotments
• Schools
Increase usage (the future)
• Link to cooking sessions – how to cook cauliflower etc
• Link to community groups, churches as well as HV, children centres etc
