UNICEF UK RESPONDS TO BEST START FOR LIFE STRATEGY
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) responds to the Government’s Best Start for Life strategy announced today (Monday 7 July 2025):
Dr Philip Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer of UNICEF UK, said:
“This strategy is a very welcome and essential step toward closing the inequalities gap in early childhood and will give children the best start in life that they all deserve, particularly in its recognition that poverty and inequality must be addressed in the early years. The commitment to invest in and bring together local services through Best Start Family Hubs is vital and will go a long way to meeting the needs of families with babies and young children.
“While essential, services alone are not enough to reverse the rising tide of child poverty across the UK. The government must urgently end the two-child limit as part of its Child Poverty Strategy.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact the UNICEF UK media team on 0207 375 6030 [email protected]
Recent research from UNICEF UK
- New analysis from UNICFE UK: ‘Held back from the start: the impact of deprivation on early childhood,’ maps every Local Authority area in England against its level of deprivation and a range of early childhood health and educational outcomes.
- A joint report from UNICEF UK and NSPCC: Opening Doors: Access to early childhood services for families impacted by poverty in the UK found that families experiencing poverty in the UK face barriers to accessing early childhood services at every level.
UNICEF UK’s Early Moments Matter campaign
UNICEF UK’s Early Moments Matter campaign is calling on the UK Government to invest properly in early childhood so that parents and carers can access the vital services and financial support to help them and their baby now and set them up for success in the future. Families need a range of support, but the campaign is focusing on financial support for parents, access to early education and childcare, and parents’ mental health as an urgent priority.
Find out more about the campaign or sign the petition here.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).
For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.