UPDATED 4th July 2025.

HENRY is honoured to join 18 leading charities in urging the UK Government to address the fragility of infant‑feeding support, highlighted during the COVID‑19 pandemic. As part of a joint letter to Jo Churchill MP and Alison Thewliss MP - released during World Breastfeeding Week - we called for urgent action to safeguard families at this vital stage.

Why It Matters

The pandemic has severely disrupted infant‑feeding services:

• Face‑to‑face services were paused, and many health professionals were redeployed
• Support shifted online, but not all families can access or benefit equally
• Already-strained systems have weakened further, risking infants' nutrition and maternal mental wellbeing, and deepening inequality

Our Call to Government

The charities demand that the Government:

1. Prioritises infant‑feeding support in its COVID‑19 strategy
2. Restores and strengthens face‑to‑face services, ensuring families receive essential help
3. Implements a long-term strategy to sustain and improve infant‑feeding support across the UK

Further Reading & References

• The Breastfeeding Network - Covid-19 exposes fragility of infant feeding support in the UK Press Release
• WBTi / Breastfeeding Network Statement – COVID‑19 exposes fragility of infant‑feeding support
• WHO – World Breastfeeding Week campaign overview
• UNICEF – Importance of breastfeeding during emergencies
• WBTi European report – emergency preparedness and infant feeding
• NICHD (US) – Research on breastfeeding benefits

Want to Learn More or Get Involved?

If you’d like to know more about HENRY’s infant‑feeding support work, explore partnerships or help champion healthy starts, please get in touch.