The Government has announced a new £3.3m fund to give babies from deprived areas or BAME backgrounds the best start in life.

Applications open today for a share of a fund to support community projects in England aimed at tackling obesity, reducing smoking and improving learning among mothers and young babies.

This new round of the Health and Wellbeing Fund has been launched with the theme of ‘starting well’ to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in deprived areas or from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds from preconception to up to 2-and-a-half years of age.

This will pay for 3-year projects run by voluntary and community social enterprises (VCSEs) to help level up deprived communities and give children the best possible start in life.

Public health minister Jo Churchill said: ‘Everyone deserves to live a long, healthy life, and we’re determined to reduce the inequality that some families face.

‘We’re committed to start this work from birth, and the voluntary sector have an enormous role to play in its success.

‘This year we have launched the Health and Wellbeing Fund which is centred around starting well, to make sure mothers have the help they need to make the right decisions to support their health, and the health of their babies.’