Nursery World - Government urged to increase the value of Healthy Start scheme amid 'soaring' food inflation

The value of the Healthy Start scheme, which helps women with children under the age of four with the cost of food and milk, needs to increase by 20 per cent to cover the cost of essentials such as baby formula, finds new analysis.

The LGA is calling for the value of the Healthy Start scheme, open to eligible pregnant women, to be increased, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

According to the research by the Local Government Association (LGA) the amount eligible women and families receive through the scheme was last reviewed in 2020.

MP proposes changes to Healthy Start sign-up process to ensure ‘no baby or infant goes without’

The analysis finds:

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, is asking the Government to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to uplift the value of Healthy Start in line with current inflation, and commit to review the value of the scheme every six months.

It also wants eligibility for the scheme expanded to include all children who are facing food insecurity and poverty.

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