Healthy Start is part of the UK Government’s benefits scheme targeted at families with children under the age of four and pregnant mothers on very low incomes, as well as all pregnant teenagers below 18 years of age. It is meant to provide a critical nutritional safety net for the most nutritionally vulnerable, and comprises two parts: a cash allowance and multivitamin supplements.
Eligible families receive £4.25 per week per eligible individual (£8.50 for infants under one) intended for spending on fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables, pulses and grains, cow's milk or infant formula.
The Government has missed its target of 75% uptake for Healthy Start, with only 64% of eligible parents and carers on average accessing the scheme across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Uptake levels are low due to many families being unaware of the scheme or struggling with the application process.
These figures come as The Food Foundation’s new data shows that 27% of UK households with children under the age of four experienced food insecurity in January 2023. In January 2023, food insecurity was experienced by 23% of households with school-age children (5-17-years-old) and 15% of households without children.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, said: “Debilitating food price rises are making it incredibly challenging for low-income young families to afford a healthy diet. This is extremely concerning given how important good nutrition is for young children’s growth and development. Much more needs to be done by Government to make sure uptake improves – implementing the recommendations set out in the National Food Strategy is a good place to start.”
The Food Foundation, Sustain and other organisations are calling for the following actions from the Government:
- To commit £5m of funding for a comprehensive communications campaign to improve awareness and uptake of Healthy Start – as recommended in the National Food Strategy.
- Increase the Healthy Start allowance in line with food price inflation alongside other Government benefits. Thereafter, the Government should review the value every six months.
- Expand eligibility to all families on Universal Credit and equivalent benefits with children under five years old, as recommended in the National Food Strategy.