Labour councillor Anna Wright

PARENTS-TO-BE struggling with the cost-of-living crisis are set to be given £500 cash payments.

The scheme announced by Camden Council and the North West London NHS Foundation Trust will be piloted for a year and is to due to help up to 800 expecting residents.

The Town Hall said it would not dictate how the money should be spent and that would be left to the recipients, but the idea is that it will go towards the costs of preparing for their baby’s arrival.

Those eligible, which includes people on universal credit, housing benefit and council tax support, will be contacted by children’s centres and Camden’s money advice service.

The scheme comes as council chiefs set up a new taskforce, known as Raise Camden, aimed at tackling child poverty in the borough.

This latest search for solutions will be chaired by the council leader, Labour councillor Richard Olszewski, alongside Professor Michael Marmot, director of the Institute of Health Equity and professor of epidemiology at University College London.

The new cash payments will not affect the receipt of any other welfare benefits.

Councillor Camron Aref-Adib, Camden’s finance supremo, said: “We want to work with partners across Camden to put an end to child poverty in Camden and that means supporting parents who are in greatest financial need before their child is even born.

“This is not just a form of financial help, but crucially the start of a connection into the many support services we offer for parents through our Children’s Centres and Family Hubs. This offer includes help with how to care for the baby and child, money, welfare and job advice and much more.”

His colleague, health chief Councillor Anna Wright, added: “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.”

More than a third of children in Camden are growing up in circumstances which meet the definition of child poverty – a level of deprivation which has stayed stubbornly at a similar level for several years and one above the national average.

Graeme Caul, chief operating officer at CNWL, said: “By offering tailored, responsive, and accessible services, we strive to ensure every family receives the support they need, when they need it.”