Category

• Emerging Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Mitigation

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Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Increase income from benefits
• Non-driver - improving quality of life

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Keywords

• Holistic Support
• Infant Nutritional Requirements
• Families, parents and carers
• Cash First
• Timely access

Aim

To provide a dedicated resource (developed by relevant experts) to support parents, carers and/or families facing food insecurity for their infant, by utilising a holistic, cash first approach.

To provide timely and sustainable support for families, parents or carers who require formula for their babies, while ensuring that it is an appropriate milk that the baby is receiving.

To overcome food insecurity by also directing families, parents or carers toward financial support through access to income maximisation support and other welfare provisions.

To educate and inform by spreading awareness of key public health messages surrounding infant feeding and formula

Summary

The Tayside Infant Food Insecurity Pathway (TIFIP) is a resource developed by NHS Tayside, for use by Tayside’s three local council authority partners. TIFIP is utilised by families facing infant food insecurity, providing support including immediate access to first stage infant formula.

The pathway draws upon key public health messaging surrounding infant nutrition to help local authorities deliver appropriate help. In utilising a cash first approach, the pathway also addresses financial challenges tackling infant food insecurity in a dignified manner directing local authorities to provide access to financial and welfare support.

What difference does it make?

Not yet fully known due to developing nature of the project. Initial feedback suggests that from an education standpoint the pathway has been very impactful at educating its participants in the importance of infant nutritional requirements, and the importance of including a financial aspect to tackle infant food insecurity. Gillian has introduced the pathway to other local government authorities, and some may develop a similar approach in the future.
Feedback has been shared through a round table event chaired by Scottish Government’s Supporting Maternal and Child Wellbeing Unit lead.

Key take-aways

• It is important to draw on a range of expertise
• in this instance, it was beneficial to receive input from someone who understands .
• Ensure a range of people are involved during the scoping stage to ensure understanding of the project’s systems.
• When tackling poverty, it is important to incorporate a range of perspectives to ensure a holistic model of support.
• For similar projects, educating users and staff on the importance of infant nutrition is vital (i.e., why support needs to be immediate, why certain stage formula needs to be provided).

 

Organisations

NHS Tayside.

Location

The pathway has been developed for use at NHS Tayside sites (local authority areas of Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross).

The pathway was launched in its pilot stage in February 2025.

Contact