Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research
Reinvention is an established online, peer-reviewed journal publishing high-quality undergraduate student research. The journal welcomes academic articles from all student researchers from any discipline and university. Published by the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL), University of Warwick. IATL is a hub for education innovation and develop student research initiatives including Reinvention, the International Conference of Undergraduate Research and the British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning, University of Warwick
<p class="p-Cl1" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato,&quot; helvetica neue&quot;,helvetica,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" align="left">Authors are responsible for obtaining permission from copyright holders for reproducing through any medium of communication those illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. Authors are also responsible for adding these permissions to the acknowledgement footnote that precedes all other notes or crediting the source and copyright of photographs or figures in the accompanying captions. <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato,&quot; helvetica neue&quot;,helvetica,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The journal's policy is to ask authors to grant us the licence to publish their work, which gives us the exclusive right both to reproduce and/or distribute their article (including the abstract) in printed, electronic or any other medium, and in turn to authorise others (including Reproduction Rights Organisations such as the Copyright Licensing Agency and the Copyright Clearance Center) to do the same. In return the author(s) assert their Moral Right to be identified as the author, and we promise that we will respect their rights as the author(s). That is, we will make sure that their name(s) is/are always clearly associated with the article and, while they do allow us to make necessary editorial changes, we will not make any substantial alteration to their article without consulting them. <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato,&quot; helvetica neue&quot;,helvetica,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Copyright remains with the author(s), however, the author(s) authorise us to act on their behalf to defend their copyright if anyone should infringe it, and to retain half of any damages awarded, after deducting our costs. The author(s) also retain the right to use their own article (provided they acknowledge the published original in standard bibliographic citation form) in the following ways, as long as they do not sell it or give it away in ways which would conflict directly with our interests. The author(s) is/are free to use their article for the internal educational or other purposes of their own institution or company; mounted on their own or their institution’s website; posted to free public servers of preprints and/or articles in their subject area; or in whole or in part, as the basis for their own further publications or spoken presentations. <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato,&quot; helvetica neue&quot;,helvetica,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If you have any queries about copyright please contact reinventionjournal@warwick.ac.uk
I am Grace Fisher, a final-year medical student at Warwick University and this year’s Reinvention editor. Working on this edition has been a privilege – not only because of the quality of the research submitted, but because of how clearly our authors embody the spirit of Reinvention. Each contribution, in its own way, challenges how we think about knowledge, inclusion and creativity in research. Across the submissions this year, there is a shared willingness to question assumptions and to imagine something better – whether that is fairer assessment practices, more inclusive systems of support, or new approaches to technology, identity and belonging. What strikes me most is how confidently undergraduate researchers now occupy this space. Their work is not tentative or derivative; it is bold, critical and grounded in lived experience.
Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning
Copyright (c) 2025 Grace Fisher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
IATL at 15: Educational Innovation Then, Now and in the Future
The paper traces the evolution of the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) at the University of Warwick as it marks its 15th anniversary. Since its formation in 2010, IATL has served as a catalyst for educational innovation, championing interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate research and student–staff co-creation. The authors reflect on IATL’s foundations in Open-Space Learning (OSL) and Student-as-Producer, its development as an academic department and its influence on sector-wide conversations about agential learning and innovative assessment. They conclude with a discussion of possible directions of travel for educational innovation in the next decade, including the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence.
Copyright (c) 2025 Professor Jonathan Hickman-Heron, Dr Fraser Logan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Fraser Logan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Testing the Limits. Can Nitrate Levels be Used to Safeguard the Health of UK Rivers? The Critical Reflection of an Undergraduate’s Introduction to Independent Research
The novelty of independent research is always a memorable experience, although never for the reasons expected. The responsibility of designing and executing an original project; the uncertainty of having to cope with issues as and when they arise. While I can attest to this being a positively enriching experience, it was certainly not without its drawbacks. Since the majority of these were a product of my shifting priorities, this came to define my project. Akin to a trial by fire at times, I thus attained a better understanding of the realistic expectations that ought to come with carrying out research, at any level, alongside the strengthening of my resilience to setbacks – although it did not feel as such at the time. Met with unfavourable circumstances, I nevertheless produced a comprehensive academic poster that has since allowed me to present at multiple conferences. Furthermore, I have taken my experience here and the desire to undertake research onto the next project and will continue to do so going forward.
Copyright (c) 2025 Federico White https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mysteries for Humans: Navigating the Maze of Science, Objectivity and our Mental Limits
My project explored the idea that science, often upheld as the epitome of objectivity, may instead resemble a maze of our own creation. Drawing inspiration from Penelope Scott’s ‘Mysteries for Rats’ and Chomsky’s concept of ‘mysteries-for-humans’, the work considers how social structures, institutions and scientific practices can form problems we are unable to conclusively solve. The exhibit’s structure deliberately avoids resolution, echoing both intellectual dead ends encountered during philosophical discussion and the recursive loops of institutionalised science. Ultimately the goal is not to provide answers but to provoke curiosity, encourage openness and prompt reflection on the limitations of human knowledge. Engaging openly with other disciplines may allow us to examine a question more fully and utilise these unique perspectives to form creative solutions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ezra Smith https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An Exploration of the Potential which Artificial Intelligence has in Supporting Children’s Learning
This paper explores the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in primary education, highlighting its potential to personalise learning, alleviate teacher workload and enhance student outcomes. It critically examines the integration of AI technologies, ranging from intelligent tutoring systems to voice-activated assistants, and their implications for pedagogy, student wellbeing and digital literacy. While acknowledging AI’s transformative capabilities, the paper similarly addresses ethical concerns, including data privacy, bias and overreliance on automated systems. Drawing on current research, educational policy and practical examples, it advocates for the responsible adoption of AI guided by informed teacher judgement and robust digital literacy education. Ultimately, it calls for collaborative efforts among educators, technologists and policymakers to ensure AI enriches learning without compromising human values or professional integrity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lorna Robinson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Celebrating the Student, Acknowledging the Researcher
British Conference of Undergraduate Research
International Conference of Undergraduate Research
National Conference of Undergraduate Research
Australasian Conference of Undergraduate Research
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Fiona Farnsworth https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Student Research at the Heart of UK Government
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof Jane Bryan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
British Conference of Undergraduate Research 2025 Book of Abstracts
British Conference of Undergraduate Research 2025 Book of Abstracts The British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR) took place over two days, from 9th to 10th April 2025 and was hosted by Newcastle University. Over the two day academic conference students presented their research after having their abstracts reviewed and accepted by academic peer reviewers. The abstracts from the conference are collected here and provide an overview of the vast array of research subjects across multiple disciplines, from many higher education institutions. The student presenters opted to talk about their research in the form of a presentation, a poster or an installation.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Celebrating the Diversity of Student Research
The Magical Power of Discussion and Connection Creates Hope for Research in Challenging Times
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof Paul Taylor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Celebrating Student Research at BCUR 2025
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Damien Hall, Helen Foley https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Machine Learning Approach to Augment Security in NFC-Based Access Control Systems
Near-field communication (NFC) is widely used in access control systems such as payment processing and regulating access to facilities. Due to its decentralised nature, NFC is constrained by resource limitations, making it vulnerable to exploits such as key cloning. This study investigated the effectiveness of machine-learning algorithms in visually distinguishing cards as an added security measure against unauthorised cloned cards. The methodology includes collecting datasets, building classification models (CNN, KNN and SVM), performance evaluations and integration of the best-performing model into an NFC prototype, Clone Guard. Performance evaluations included accuracy, precision, F1-score and recall metrics. We found that CNN was the best-performing model, with a prediction accuracy of 96 per cent. Experimental results showed that noisy datasets produced a more robust model than noiseless datasets. Heatmap visualisations indicate that distinct colours and bold text regions contributed significantly to the model’s decision-making. Despite the high accuracy on test data, the prototype performed less accurately when classifying scanned cards. The study provided a basic evaluation of classification algorithms, concluding that deep learning offered greater suitability. The implications of the prototype extended into the applied research domain, offering a configurable and deployable solution to improve the resilience of NFC-based access systems against unauthorised cloned cards.
Near-field communication-based access systems
Visual authentication using machine learning
School of Information Technology & Systems
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniella R. Gullotta, David Prego, Yibeltal F. Alem https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Threads of Transformation: Unravelling Norms, Reweaving Futures
Breaking into Academic Publishing: Creating a Credible, Quality and Publishable Article
Writing an academic article is something many students desire but common fears and concerns can prevent them from taking the next steps to publication success. This article offers insights from a journal’s Chief Editor aimed at early career and student authors considering publication, and hopes to enhance their publication experiences alongside avoiding some common mistakes. It explores how through spending time locating and evaluating suitable candidate journals from the outset, prospective authors can help avoid early rejections of their manuscript submissions. The article then proposes how authors, once writing is underway, can further increase their chances of a positive reception by reaching out to prospective editors. It illustrates that, as some form of peer-review is ubiquitous in academic publishing within quality research journals, authors should prepare to deal with reviews functionally, effectively and, where possible, dispassionately. Further, it suggests where rejection is encountered, authors should appreciate that other, alternative journals are likely to still be interested in publishing their work. Thus, through a lot of hard work, advice and attention to guidance from journals, and some common sense, any would-be author can achieve a publishable, quality academic article within a suitable research journal.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gareth Johnson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Access to Information and Support for LGBTQI+ People Seeking Asylum
Both asylum seekers and LGBTQI+ people systemically lack access to information; in the context of the British asylum system, intersections and interactions between being LGBTQI+ and seeking asylum aggravate this insufficiency. This research project is unique in its exploration of the effects of the hostile asylum accommodation environment on LGBTQI+ people’s access to information through the case study of Coventry’s immigration accommodation. The research question ‘What is the nature of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers’ access to information and support in the context of Coventry’s immigration accommodation?’ was explored through interviews and focus groups with local LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum. The findings show that participants mainly accessed information through government-funded charities and accommodation staff, and that they had limited access to services specifically developed for LGBTQI+ people. They faced violence in the asylum accommodation, which translated into isolation and fear of revealing their sexual orientations and/or gender identities in order to request specialised information from housing staff. The fear was aggravated by staff inaction, which led to participants feeling discriminated against, and which further reduced their attempts to request support. This created a vicious cycle, in which LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum have continuously less access to information, which illustrates a systemic unpreparedness in the British asylum system to support this group.
Copyright (c) 2025 Isabel Coelho Govier https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Breaking Barriers: A Comprehensive Study on the Pathways and Challenges Faced by First-Generation Students in Higher Education
This study explores the experiences of first-generation students at Warwick University, focusing on academic preparedness, financial barriers, social integration and mentorship support. The research specifically compares the experiences of students who were and were not part of the Warwick Scholars Programme, revealing that both groups faced similar challenges. Existing literature highlights challenges faced by first-generation students, including deficiencies in academic preparation, financial constraints and social isolation. Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper combines survey data (N = 24) with in-depth interviews (N = 4) to provide a comprehensive understanding of these issues. The findings reveal that both Warwick Scholars and non-Scholars experience similar levels of under-preparedness, despite pre-university interventions. Financial pressures significantly influence educational choices and contribute to family-driven stress. Social integration varies, with some students feeling isolated while others find community through extracurricular activities. Mentorship support is inconsistent, with some students benefitting from personal tutors and peer networks while others struggle to access adequate guidance. The study underscores the necessity for more inclusive and targeted support systems to address the multifaceted challenges faced by first-generation students. While the paper provides valuable insights, limitations include a small sample size, suggesting the need for broader studies. Key recommendations include increasing counselling and skill-building workshops, expanding financial aid, and enhancing mentorship, guidance and career support to better support first-generation students.
Academic preparedness of first-generation university students
Financial pressures on first-generation students
First-generation students in UK higher education
Mentorship support for first-generation students
Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica He https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2024 Yit Xiang Wong https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Age and Racial Disparities Persist for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia in the United States
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are primarily spread through sexual activity. In recent years, STIs have been on the rise globally. In the United States, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the most prevalent bacterial STIs and have been for the past decade. Both these infections infect the same tissues, have similar modes of transmission, clinical presentations, and can be treated by the same antibiotics. Yet, the epidemiologies and forecasts appear to be different. This paper identifies vulnerable populations specific to gonorrhoea and chlamydia and assesses factors that are likely driving these disparities. Publicly available surveillance data from The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was examined to identify vulnerable populations for both diseases. These findings show that there are sex-specific differences in risk of gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and that young females carry an increased risk of both. Also, there is an increased risk of both infections among the Black/African American population. Understanding risk and risk-drivers is essential to targeting these vulnerable populations for the interest of public health.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amy Parnell https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Insights into Diversity: A Multi-Stakeholder Analysis of Inclusive Assessment Practices in Higher Education
Changes to admissions policies may have improved access to higher education, but equitable teaching and assessment strategies must address persisting attainment gaps. A diverse and inclusive assessment strategy is proposed to contribute towards reducing attainment deficits by providing learners with equality of opportunity. This study aims to elucidate student and staff experience of diverse assessments, to involve students in shaping the future of assessments, and to develop recommendations to overcome challenges associated with implementation. To achieve this, a mixed-methods survey (n = 54) explored students’ experiences of assessments. Focus groups (n = 7) led by students were conducted with some of the survey respondents. University educators (n = 6) participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Student and staff data were analysed separately and assembled for comparison. Analysis revealed strong agreement between students and staff: both groups considered that diverse assessment would promote equitable opportunities in higher education. Participants recognised the need for a shift in culture to facilitate the implementation of a diverse assessment strategy that would promote equity of opportunity by improving accessibility and inclusivity. Moreover, implementation should be accommodated to the ‘learning journey’, welcoming students as equal co-creators and seeking to minimise the burden of assessments and marking.
Copyright (c) 2025 Molly Fowler, Marie-Dolores Ako-Adounvo, Isabel Fischer, Leda Mirbahai https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Awareness, Knowledge and Practice of Female Zayed University Students Regarding Folate and Folic Acid
Adequate and timely folic acid intake can prevent the development of most Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. However, up-to-date information on how much childbearing-age women are informed regarding this is limited in the United Arab Emirates. This study evaluated awareness and knowledge level of folate and folic acid (FA), along with FA supplement intake among female university students. It also assessed major demographic factors associated with knowledge of folate and with FA supplement usage, as well as examining participants’ risk level of inadequate folate intake. Of 239 female Zayed university students who completed the questionnaire, 63.2 per cent were aware of folate, and 44.8 per cent had good knowledge, but most (77 per cent) never took FA supplements consistently although the majority of the participants (38.5 per cent) were at higher risk of inadequate folate intake. Health science specialisation, history of folate deficiency or anaemia, and married or divorced marital status were associated with knowledge of folate/FA. Married/divorced marital status and history of folate deficiency or anaemia were also strongly correlated with FA supplement intake. However, pregnancy experience was not correlated with any of them. These results indicate a substantial gap in young women’s knowledge and FA supplementation. Therefore, effective education programmes are required to increase knowledge and promote folate-rich food consumption and FA intake.
Demographic factors and folic acid supplementation
Demographic factors and knowledge of folate
Dietary folate intake among undergraduates
Female university students and Vitamin B9
Copyright (c) 2025 Bontu Yismawu Melaku, Professor Fatme Al Anouti, Dr. Ala Al Rajabi, Professor Lynne Alexandra Kennedy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Global Minds: Expanding Beyond the Horizon
World Conference of Undergraduate Research
Are Private Brands Morally Inferior to National Brands?
This paper investigates the moral distinctions between private brands (or private labels) and national brands within the context of economic, sustainability and innovation impacts. Private brands, owned and controlled by retailers, increasingly dominate the market, raising ethical concerns. Key areas of analysis include economic effects on consumers and producers, sustainability practices and the ethical implications of innovation and image copying. The findings suggest that private brands are morally inferior to national brands due to their detrimental impact on sustainability and innovation. The paper concludes with proposed political interventions aimed at mitigating these ethical issues, highlighting the need for more stringent regulations to ensure fair practices and enhance sustainability within the industry.
Copyright (c) 2024 Albert Oliver I Ribé https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Conceptions of Freedom in the Regulation of Junk Food and Tobacco
This paper examines the regulatory disparities between the junk food and tobacco industries in the UK, focusing on the underlying conceptions of freedom that shape public policy. While both industries contribute significantly to public health challenges, tobacco is subject to far stricter regulations. Through an analysis of parliamentary debates within the House of Commons, the paper explores the application of positive and negative freedom in discussions of junk food and tobacco. I find that the presence of addiction in tobacco discourse is used to apply a positive conception of freedom, leading to more stringent regulations. Conversely, junk food discussions emphasise individual choice, aligning with a negative conception of freedom and resulting in softer regulatory approaches. This paper argues that these differing narratives on freedom contribute to the observed regulatory differences and suggests that emphasising the addictive nature of junk food could shift regulatory perspectives.
comparing discourse between junk food and tobacco
positive and negative freedom in discussions of tobacco and obesity
Copyright (c) 2024 Daniel Knoth https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
To What Extent Were There Attempts to Securitise the Malaysian Chicken Export Ban In Singapore? A Comparative Analysis of Frames Between Government and News Media
This article focuses on exploring the securitisation of the Malaysian chicken export ban that took effect on 1 June 2022. The effects of the chicken export ban seemingly went beyond the economics of food, and expanded into the realm of national identity, as the de facto national dish of Singapore got compromised. As food and national identity is intricately linked to societal security and a key part of securitisation theory, this research paper seeks to explore the extent to which the chicken export ban was securitised. Through the use of a frame analysis, three different categories of news media were analysed: governmental media, local news media and foreign news media. The analysis showed that the foreign news media had attempted securitisation, but the local news media and governmental media refrained from securitisation, and rather engaged in a prognostic framing to reframe the chicken export ban into a proactive management of the situation which desecuritised the ban.
Copyright (c) 2024 Lucas Huan Zhi Kai https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rethinking the EU’s Deforestation Regulation: A Fairer Approach to Palm Oil in the Global South
This paper explores the debate on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation on the Palm Oil Industry. While most of the existing literature focuses on the implications of the regulation on the Global South, I explore whether the EU is obligated to revise the regulation on moral terms. In addressing this question, I argue that the European Union has a moral obligation to revise the deforestation regulation or find an alternative way of promoting sustainable agri-food production. The justification is in line with the theory of ‘global distributive justice’, where the benefits and burdens of the policy should be fairly distributed, taking into account the nation’s capabilities and historical contributions to the problem.
European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Palm Oil
Utilitarianism in EU Environmental Regulation
Distributive Justice in Global Climate Action
Copyright (c) 2024 Abirrami Gunalan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Discussions of gastronationalism have largely focused on nationalist politics at the state level, especially in the realm of European integration and Americanisation. This paper, therefore, explores how gastronationalism is manifested at the subnational level by asking the question ‘What role does food play in the construction of Cornish national identity vis-à-vis England?’ This paper first reviews the literature around gastronationalism to explore how the concept has developed. It shall raise the example of Cornwall as having much in common with previous case studies of gastronationalism in how heritage foods are protected in a politics concerned with homogenisation. A contrast will then be drawn between the generally discussed contexts, with the strong economic incentives to develop an inclusive food culture as part of a national brand that appeals to tourists in Cornwall, which also contributes to the ‘lived brand’ of Cornwall. To investigate this question, a thematic and qualitative content analysis of local tourist boards’ promotional content is conducted in comparison to other English counties. Finally, it shall conclude that gastronationalism is conceptually relevant to the Cornish context, but the specific nature of cultural revivalism suggests the concept should be expanded to better account for subnational gastronationalist efforts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Reuben Bye https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Food
The undergraduate degree Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) has attracted a stereotype of developing future political and financial elites with little regard to the subject material covered in the programme. This clashes with student expectations and university messaging on PPE, which, especially at the University of Warwick, highlight the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives for addressing complex global challenges. This introduction to this special section argues that it is imperative to centre students’ voices in defining PPE, and, to this end, showcases a co-creation process aimed at developing an interdisciplinary module. The resulting module on the PPE of food thereby speaks to how students understand their PPE: as a programme that breaks with interdisciplinary silos to answer complex questions relevant to the world we live in.
Copyright (c) 2024 Laura Gelhaus, Lucas Huan, Aaron Smith, Vivek Venkatram https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Social Evolution: Capturing the Essence of Change
The Current State of the Healthy Start Food Scheme in the South West of England: A Qualitative Analysis with Stakeholders
Introduction: The Healthy Start scheme (HS) was introduced in 2006 to provide a nutritional safety net for economically disadvantaged UK families. Uptake has been poor, with at times only 60 per cent of eligible families in the South West of the England registered. Online registration has recently been introduced, and this study explores the impact of this, plus the current state of HS, and why uptake has been low. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were held with local stakeholders. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts. Participants were recruited online using purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews occurred over Zoom and used a standardised topic guide. Results: Seven participants were recruited, and analysis revealed three key themes: i) HS barriers, ii) the importance of local teams, iii) suggested improvements. The online switch has streamlined applications, but HS recipients are hindered by digital poverty. Recent inflation and the cost-of-living crisis have blunted the impact the credit has for families. Conclusion: HS has potential to reduce childhood food insecurity but is restrained by low uptake. An increase in funding for local teams along with a national advertising campaign would improve awareness. Families need help overcoming the digital poverty highlighted by the online switch. Eligibility should be expanded to families on Universal Credit with children under the age of five. Keywords: Diet, Food insecurity, Nutritional sciences, Healthy Start, Health inequalities, Child health
Copyright (c) 2025 Joshua Harris https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0