Government response to calls to expand Healthy Start

The Department of Health and Social care has responded to calls by The Food Foundation and Sustain to urgently expand the Healthy Start scheme to reach more families amid the cost of living crisis. The restrictive eligibility criteria makes it available to a very small number of those in need – only those with children aged under four and with a household income of £408 per month or less excluding benefits. This means many experiencing food insecurity are falling through the gap in support between eligibility to Healthy Start and Free School Meals.