Charities are raising concerns that many low-income families in the North East and Cumbria are not receiving financial support they are entitled to through the NHS Health Start scheme. This program provides weekly payments to help buy fresh food, including fruits, vegetables, and milk. Families earning less than £400 a week, especially those with pregnant women or children under four, are eligible for £4.65 weekly, while families with babies under 12 months can receive £9.30. However, in some areas of the North East and Cumbria, as few as 64% of eligible families are claiming the benefits, leaving thousands without crucial support. Food prices have risen sharply, and charities argue that this makes the need for such support even more urgent. Feeding Britain, a Newcastle-based charity, emphasized that families on the lowest incomes need every possible form of assistance. The charity has called for the government to address the issue, though it has not yet responded to requests for comment. Amelia, a mother from Sunderland, shared how difficult it is to afford basic essentials. She said feeding her two-year-old son and covering other costs like nappies and outings is becoming increasingly unmanageable. To save money, she often eats the same meals as her son. Another mother, Amy, described the challenge of buying formula for her toddler, which was expensive and lacked promotions or discounts. In some areas, the take-up of the scheme is relatively high. For example, Redcar and Cleveland Council reported that 87% of eligible families were enrolled. However, in other areas, such as the former Eden Council area, only 64% of those eligible were enrolled, and in Copeland, the figure was 68%. In Sunderland and Stockton, 81% of eligible families were enrolled, but in Newcastle and Middlesbrough, the rate was 77%. Overall, this means that 6,149 families across the region are missing out on the support they are entitled to. Penny Walters from Feeding Britain highlighted the inadequacy of the current payment amounts in light of rising living costs. She pointed out that the £4.65 weekly payment is barely enough to buy essentials, and even the higher £9.30 for families with babies is insufficient, as it can only buy one tin of formula per week. She mentioned a case where a malnourished baby was admitted to hospital in Newcastle, with the mother only able to afford sugar water. Such situations, she said, are unacceptable in modern times. Several national charities, including Sustain, The Food Foundation, and Feeding Britain, are urging the government to update the Healthy Start scheme. Andrew Forsey, director of Feeding Britain, suggested that the government should implement an auto-enrollment system to automatically register eligible families, reducing the burden on parents. Labour MP Emma Lewell added that it is frustrating that the money allocated for the scheme is not reaching those in need, and she is campaigning to ensure funds are not returned to the Treasury if unclaimed. Charities are also requesting updated enrollment figures from the Department for Health and Social Care, which has not published data since January 2023.