Best Start Foods - £2.3 million still unspent
Laura Houston • 20 February 2023
Families are being urged to check the balance on their Best Start Foods pre-paid card, as there is £2.3 million in payments which have been issued to cards but have not yet been spent.
Best Start Foods helps eligible people with the purchase of healthy food and milk when they are pregnant or have children under the age of three. Once issued with their pre-pay card, people automatically receive a payment of £36.00 for each eligible child every four weeks.
It has been advised that since launching in 2019, 7039 of the cards which have been issued, have never been activated, and a further 3,260 have been activated by never used. This could mean that people have unknowingly built up large balances.
Social Security Scotland is encouraging families to make use of these cards and have already written to some families to urge them to check the balance on their cards via the online system, at a cash machine, or by calling the card issuer, ‘Allpay’. To check their balance at a cash machine, people should enter their 4-digit PIN.
- The Scottish Government replaced the UK Healthy Start Voucher scheme in Scotland with Best Start Foods on 12 August 2019
- The Best Start Foods scheme is a prepaid card that can be used in shops or online to buy healthy food, for example, cow’s milk, first infant formula milk, fruit and vegetables, pulses, and eggs. It is:
- £18 every 4 weeks during pregnancy – the payment amount is per pregnancy. This means the payment amount is the same whether you're pregnant with one baby, or if you're having twins or triplets.
- £36 every 4 weeks from your child being born up until they're one year old, or until the first anniversary of their estimated delivery date (whichever is later)
- £18 every 4 weeks when your child is between the ages of one and 3 years old.
If you, or anyone you know, lives in North Ayrshire and needs assistance with this, or any other issue relating to benefits, housing, or debt; do not hesitate to get in touch. One of our experienced advisers will be happy to help. You can call us for free on 030 0002 0002 or contact us through the live chat service on the website.
2025 has been another extremely busy year for the team at CHAP, with demand for our services continuing to rise. Over the past year, 2,055 individuals were referred to us for support, highlighting just how vital our services remain within the communities we serve. Alongside this increased demand, the outcomes we have achieved for our clients have reached a record high. In 2025, we secured more than £4.27 million for the people we support - an increase of £1 million compared to our achievements in 2024. This vital income has made a real and lasting difference to the lives of many individuals and families. While the financial impact is significant, the support we provide goes far beyond money alone. Many clients told us that accessing CHAP’s services helped to reduce their stress levels, with 68% reporting a noticeable improvement. Others shared how our support positively influenced their confidence, health, education and employment prospects, as well as helping them to build stronger social connections and enjoy a better overall quality of life.
CHAP is very pleased to announce an exciting partnership with Morgan Sindall Construction that aims to equip secondary school pupils with the financial skills needed to prepare them for life beyond the classroom and into adulthood. Established in 2005, CHAP’s education department has long played a vital role in raising awareness of the realities of homelessness, challenging stereotypes, and highlighting the responsibilities and costs related to independent living to S4 pupils across North Ayrshire. In 2015, this work expanded to include financial education workshops, supporting young people to better understand budgeting, credit rating, saving, and wider money management. Thanks to funding from The Robertson Trust, another milestone was reached earlier in 2025 by extending Life Skills and financial education sessions into S1 - S3 classrooms, giving younger pupils the opportunity to develop good financial habits early and strengthen their money confidence. Morgan Sindall Construction delivers a wide range of major construction projects across the UK including primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. As part of the Morgan Sindall Group, they are committed to making a positive difference within the communities they work in as part of their responsible business plan. One such project is the new Dumfries High School that is currently under construction and scheduled to open in late Spring 2026. To complement and support their investment in apprenticeships and the young workforce, Morgan Sindall Construction has funded CHAP to engage with pupils at the existing Dumfries High School, St Joseph’s College, North West Community Campus, and Dumfries Academy to deliver a comprehensive programme of financial literacy sessions. These interactive sessions cover essential money skills including budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and the real-life cost of everyday living. Feedback from both staff and pupils has been extremely positive, with CHAP already seeing strong engagement and enthusiasm from the young people taking part. Robin Ballantyne, Senior Education Officer at CHAP, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Morgan Sindall Construction on this important initiative. Giving young people the tools and confidence to manage their money is vital, particularly as they prepare for life beyond school. This partnership allows us to reach new communities and build long-term impact while Morgan Sindall delivers transformational educational facilities across the region.” Elizabeth Halliday, Head of Responsible Business (Scotland) at Morgan Sindall Construction said: “Creating long-term value for communities goes hand in hand with the schools we build. Partnering with CHAP helps us strengthen our social value commitments by offering young people meaningful skills that will support them into adulthood and the workplace.” This partnership reflects a shared ambition to improve outcomes for people living in the communities served by both parties. By working together, CHAP and Morgan Sindall Construction are laying the foundations for long-term support for young people to gain confidence in their financial and everyday life skills. For more information about Morgan Sindall Construction, please visit: www.morgansindallconstruction.com
November 27th marked a proud and memorable milestone for CHAP as we celebrated our 25th anniversary with a special event at the Scottish Parliament. Our event, entitled 'Transforming Lives - resilience & equity for all', was hosted at Holyrood and provided a unique opportunity to celebrate and reflect on a quarter-century of providing free, independent advice and support to individuals and families in need across Ayrshire. The event brought together partners, funders, MSPs, staff and trustees, creating valuable space for meaningful conversations about the ongoing challenges faced by those experiencing housing, debt and financial insecurity. Throughout the afternoon, guests took the time to speak with our team, learn more about our services and share ideas on how we can continue working together to support communities and prevent people from reaching crisis point. The event was sponsored by Kenneth Gibson MSP, whose ongoing support for CHAP has been invaluable. Kenneth welcomed guests and helped create an open, positive atmosphere that encouraged discussion and connection, reinforcing the importance of partnership working in addressing complex social issues affecting our communities. We were delighted to be joined by Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, who kindly said a few words recognising CHAP’s achievements, professionalism and the breadth of services we provide. Her comments highlighted the importance of early intervention and acknowledged how closely our work aligns with the Scottish Government’s priorities to tackle the housing crisis, reduce poverty and improve outcomes for families across Scotland. Hearing this recognition at a national level was both encouraging and affirming for our team. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kenneth Gibson MSP and Màiri McAllan MSP, as well as all our partners and funders who took the time to join us and celebrate this important milestone. Your engagement, support and shared commitment to help tackle inequality and financial exclusion mean a great deal to our charity. We are also extremely grateful to the businesses who generously sponsored key elements of the event: TES-AMM (Europe) Ltd for the catering, Branding Hub Ayr for providing printed materials, and Stagecoach West Scotland for supplying a complimentary coach and driver to transport our staff and guests from Ardrossan to Edinburgh and back safely and in comfort. The event was a privilege and a real highlight in CHAP’s 25-year history and a reminder of the strength of the partnerships that make our work possible. As we look ahead, we remain committed to growing, adapting, and continuing to support as many individuals and families as we can - and we look forward to the next exciting chapter of our journey. A video of highlights from the event can be viewed on our YouTube channel here .
CHAP is pleased to announce that, thanks to funding from the East Ayrshire Anti-Poverty & Inequalities Fund, it has been able to establish a network of outreach services in East Ayrshire. In addition to our current outreach based at CentreStage in Kilmarnock, we have now expanded our support service to cover the Cumnock, Dalmellington and Newmilns areas. To ensure our services remain accessible and shaped by local residents, we ran an online consultation - with the results allowing us to identify the locations where residents are most likely to face barriers when accessing support. We have been fortunate in partnering with local organisations who are able to provide a safe space for our advisers to meet clients in need of a helping hand with housing issues, benefit entitlements and managing debt. The location details and dates for the expanded outreach service is provided below: Cumnock - Yipworld, 19 Barrhill Road, Cumnock KA18 1PG Starting from Wed 19th November, then the third Wed of each month (excl. December) Dalmellington - The Zone Initiative, 10 Main High Street, Dalmellington KA6 7QN Starting from Wed 3rd December, then the first Wed of each month (excl. January) Newmilns - Commando Factory Gym, 14 Stoneygate Road, Newmilns KA16 9AL Starting from Wed 26th November, then the fourth Wed of each month (excl. December) All CHAP services are free, independent, and confidential. Please note that these are not drop-in services - all appointments must be booked in advance by calling Freephone 030 0002 0002 .
This November marks a very special milestone for CHAP as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. Reaching a quarter of a century is no small achievement, and we’re incredibly proud to have supported thousands of people across Ayrshire since 2000. Over the years, CHAP has grown from a small local advice project into a well-established and trusted charity providing free, independent and confidential advice on housing, debt, welfare rights. We’ve developed strong partnerships, expanded our services, and adapted to meet the changing needs of our communities. From helping individuals facing homelessness to delivering financial education in schools and supporting homeowners at risk of repossession through the AHAP service , our commitment has always been the same - to help people find stability, security, and confidence in difficult times. We’ve achieved so much along the way and worked alongside national and local partners to tackle poverty and promote financial wellbeing. Each step has been driven by our belief that everyone deserves a fair chance at a better quality of life, and our commitment remains to empower individuals and families to thrive. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and compassion of our team. To our incredible staff, board of trustees, volunteers, partners, funders and donors - thank you. Your continued support, passion, and belief in our mission have contributed to making CHAP what it is today. Of course, the landscape for third sector organisations remains uncertain. Many charities have not been as fortunate in reaching such a significant milestone. Funding is increasingly competitive, while the need for our services continues to grow as more households face financial strain and insecurity due to the current cost of living crisis and lack of affordable housing. Despite these challenges, we remain determined to continue delivering vital support to those who need it most, while working to secure our long-term sustainability. It’s been a challenging, but always rewarding, journey. As we celebrate 25 years of helping our community, we’re also looking ahead with optimism and determination - ready to face new challenges, strengthen key partnerships, and continue making a difference for the next 25 years and beyond.
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2025 has been another extremely busy year for the team at CHAP, with demand for our services continuing to rise. Over the past year, 2,055 individuals were referred to us for support, highlighting just how vital our services remain within the communities we serve. Alongside this increased demand, the outcomes we have achieved for our clients have reached a record high. In 2025, we secured more than £4.27 million for the people we support - an increase of £1 million compared to our achievements in 2024. This vital income has made a real and lasting difference to the lives of many individuals and families. While the financial impact is significant, the support we provide goes far beyond money alone. Many clients told us that accessing CHAP’s services helped to reduce their stress levels, with 68% reporting a noticeable improvement. Others shared how our support positively influenced their confidence, health, education and employment prospects, as well as helping them to build stronger social connections and enjoy a better overall quality of life.
CHAP is very pleased to announce an exciting partnership with Morgan Sindall Construction that aims to equip secondary school pupils with the financial skills needed to prepare them for life beyond the classroom and into adulthood. Established in 2005, CHAP’s education department has long played a vital role in raising awareness of the realities of homelessness, challenging stereotypes, and highlighting the responsibilities and costs related to independent living to S4 pupils across North Ayrshire. In 2015, this work expanded to include financial education workshops, supporting young people to better understand budgeting, credit rating, saving, and wider money management. Thanks to funding from The Robertson Trust, another milestone was reached earlier in 2025 by extending Life Skills and financial education sessions into S1 - S3 classrooms, giving younger pupils the opportunity to develop good financial habits early and strengthen their money confidence. Morgan Sindall Construction delivers a wide range of major construction projects across the UK including primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. As part of the Morgan Sindall Group, they are committed to making a positive difference within the communities they work in as part of their responsible business plan. One such project is the new Dumfries High School that is currently under construction and scheduled to open in late Spring 2026. To complement and support their investment in apprenticeships and the young workforce, Morgan Sindall Construction has funded CHAP to engage with pupils at the existing Dumfries High School, St Joseph’s College, North West Community Campus, and Dumfries Academy to deliver a comprehensive programme of financial literacy sessions. These interactive sessions cover essential money skills including budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and the real-life cost of everyday living. Feedback from both staff and pupils has been extremely positive, with CHAP already seeing strong engagement and enthusiasm from the young people taking part. Robin Ballantyne, Senior Education Officer at CHAP, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Morgan Sindall Construction on this important initiative. Giving young people the tools and confidence to manage their money is vital, particularly as they prepare for life beyond school. This partnership allows us to reach new communities and build long-term impact while Morgan Sindall delivers transformational educational facilities across the region.” Elizabeth Halliday, Head of Responsible Business (Scotland) at Morgan Sindall Construction said: “Creating long-term value for communities goes hand in hand with the schools we build. Partnering with CHAP helps us strengthen our social value commitments by offering young people meaningful skills that will support them into adulthood and the workplace.” This partnership reflects a shared ambition to improve outcomes for people living in the communities served by both parties. By working together, CHAP and Morgan Sindall Construction are laying the foundations for long-term support for young people to gain confidence in their financial and everyday life skills. For more information about Morgan Sindall Construction, please visit: www.morgansindallconstruction.com
November 27th marked a proud and memorable milestone for CHAP as we celebrated our 25th anniversary with a special event at the Scottish Parliament. Our event, entitled 'Transforming Lives - resilience & equity for all', was hosted at Holyrood and provided a unique opportunity to celebrate and reflect on a quarter-century of providing free, independent advice and support to individuals and families in need across Ayrshire. The event brought together partners, funders, MSPs, staff and trustees, creating valuable space for meaningful conversations about the ongoing challenges faced by those experiencing housing, debt and financial insecurity. Throughout the afternoon, guests took the time to speak with our team, learn more about our services and share ideas on how we can continue working together to support communities and prevent people from reaching crisis point. The event was sponsored by Kenneth Gibson MSP, whose ongoing support for CHAP has been invaluable. Kenneth welcomed guests and helped create an open, positive atmosphere that encouraged discussion and connection, reinforcing the importance of partnership working in addressing complex social issues affecting our communities. We were delighted to be joined by Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, who kindly said a few words recognising CHAP’s achievements, professionalism and the breadth of services we provide. Her comments highlighted the importance of early intervention and acknowledged how closely our work aligns with the Scottish Government’s priorities to tackle the housing crisis, reduce poverty and improve outcomes for families across Scotland. Hearing this recognition at a national level was both encouraging and affirming for our team. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kenneth Gibson MSP and Màiri McAllan MSP, as well as all our partners and funders who took the time to join us and celebrate this important milestone. Your engagement, support and shared commitment to help tackle inequality and financial exclusion mean a great deal to our charity. We are also extremely grateful to the businesses who generously sponsored key elements of the event: TES-AMM (Europe) Ltd for the catering, Branding Hub Ayr for providing printed materials, and Stagecoach West Scotland for supplying a complimentary coach and driver to transport our staff and guests from Ardrossan to Edinburgh and back safely and in comfort. The event was a privilege and a real highlight in CHAP’s 25-year history and a reminder of the strength of the partnerships that make our work possible. As we look ahead, we remain committed to growing, adapting, and continuing to support as many individuals and families as we can - and we look forward to the next exciting chapter of our journey. A video of highlights from the event can be viewed on our YouTube channel here .