Camden pregnancy payment to continue after trial

A pilot scheme to provide a £500 grant to support low-income families welcoming a new baby in Camden is to be extended for another year.

Launched in May 2025, the scheme provides the unconditional grant to help with everyday expenses.

Those eligible include people on Universal Credit, housing benefit and council tax support.

Camden Council, which is funding the project, said the extra support was "relieving financial pressure at a time when everyday costs are rising".

Camden is thought to be one of the first boroughs in the UK to offer this type of pregnancy grant, although a national scheme called Sure Start also offers a £500 payment to low-income parents.

Modupe Fadare is mum to six-week-old Alpha, and was one of the recipients of the payment.

She told the BBC it had been "very helpful".

"I mean kids are very, very expensive and I actually did my shopping with this one quite late so it was very helpful," Modupe said.

"I was able to get him some clothes, I got him a baby swing and then I was able to bulk buy on nappies and wipes and things like that," she added.

Yingchao Siu Mendieta found out she was eligible for the payment via a text from the local authority while pregnant with her first baby.

"Of course you're not used to [buying baby items], so I started searching which items were the basics, and then you realise certain things are more expensive, like the pram," Yingchao explained.

"I was not really expecting the money so it came very handy," she said.

Aside from helping families financially, one of the aims of Camden Council's project is to bring parents together and build communities.

As a result, Yingchao has been visiting the Agar Children's Centre's stay-and-play sessions with her now three-month-old baby.

"They have breastfeeding teams which became very handy because as a first-time mum you don't really know what you are doing, so I went to them and they helped me out with giving me advice and even lent me a hospital-grade pump to take home," Yingchao said.

"They have been wonderful. I have been able to connect with some mums as well, and there is support for my husband," Yingchao added.

The initiative is part of Raise Camden, a scheme which reportedly aimed to help about 800 families in the first year.

Anna Wright, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and adult social care, said: "Studies have found a link between parents experiencing financial pressure and the low birth weight and poorer health outcomes for their children.

"We want to take away this inequity and provide help and support at what can be a really stressful moment for expectant parents, to give their child the best chance for a healthy life.

The council said that initial research conducted following the pilot showed the grant "eases pressure, reduces stress and helps [parents] feel more prepared".

Camron Aref-Adib, cabinet member for finance and cost of living, said: "Every family should be able to look forward to the birth of their child without the added worry of how they will afford the basics in the face of rising living costs.

"We created the Pregnancy Grant because we wanted to offer parents practical help at a time that really matters."