ANTI-POVERTY campaigners in Wales called today for a new scheme to be rolled out to all families expecting a baby.

The call for the Welsh Labour-run government to do more to alleviate child poverty in Wales came as a baby bundle scheme was rolled out to areas which had a Flying Start scheme.

Flying Start is a Welsh government programme which targets disadvantaged communities, but does not cover all communities across Wales.

In a country where child poverty rates are at 31 per cent, this new scheme has left many unable to benefit from it.

The bundles contain essential items such as clothing for 0-6 months, blankets, bibs, muslin cloths, a thermometer, a bilingual book and a playmat.

But anti-poverty campaigners at the Bevan Foundation said the scheme needed to be rolled out across Wales.

Bevan Foundation head of poverty policy Mabli Siriol Jones said: “The arrival of a new baby often leads to a drop in a family’s income at the same time as costs increase.

“However, limiting the scheme to Flying Start areas means that many families who are struggling will miss out.

“Similar programmes in other countries, such as Scotland and Finland, are provided to all expectant parents.”

The Bevan Foundation said it wanted to see the next Welsh government extend the baby bundles scheme to at least all families receiving universal credit.

Mum-to-be Mollie Young from Newport was the first to receive a bundle hand-delivered by children’s minister Dawn Bowden.

“Baby bundles are a tangible and meaningful support for families at an important — but often expensive — time in their lives,” Ms Bowden said.

Plaid Cymru’s spokeswoman Sioned Williams said: “Child poverty rates are rising after 27 years of Labour in power here in Wales, and they’ve shown themselves incapable of tackling this scourge and incapable of supporting families.

“They even ignored calls to support Plaid Cymru’s commitment to a child payment — something we know works in addressing poverty for children and families.

“A Plaid Cymru government would ensure the best possible start in life for every child in Wales by introducing the most generous childcare offer in the UK and by rolling out a direct child payment.”