Baby bank opens bigger premises to meet demand

3 weeks ago 99

Wendy Middleton

BBC News, Yorkshire

Baby Basics A woman with brown hair stands in front of blue storage racks which reach above head height. Rows of plastic storage boxes are arranged on the racks.
The woman is wearing a maroon coloured jumper and a brown apron with Baby Basics written on it. She's packing blankets into a cream coloured Moses basket which is on a table in front of her. Baby Basics

Baby Basics UK provides items such as bedding, clothing, toys and toiletries

A baby bank which supports families with vulnerable children has moved to a bigger premises to help meet demand for its services.

Baby Basics UK, which provides practical essentials to families with children between 0 and 5 years old, has moved to Albion House, in Savile Street, Sheffield.

Since 2019 it said demand for help had risen from an average of 80 referrals per month to around 270.

CEO Cat Ross said: "The massive difference for us is that we're all on one level, which means that our wonderful team of 70-plus volunteers are not having to climb up and down multiple stairs - so it's just enabling us to be far more efficient."

"It means we have more space to take in larger items like cots and prams in bigger quantities each week through donations from members of the public," she added.

Google The entrance to a Victorian stone building seen from the street. A stained glass window runs horizontally above the wide doorway. In the centre window pane there is a white rose. The panes of glass either side of the centre have a pattern of blue and red diamonds.
Shallow stone steps lead up to the glass double doors in the entrance. Google

Baby Basics UK have move into a modern suite in Albion House in Sheffield

The charity launched in Sheffield in 2009 and now has more than 50 locations across the country.

Baby Basics has already helped 1500 families in Sheffield so far this year and one in every ten babies born in the city receives a Moses basket from the charity.

The new premises are to be officially opened today by Baby Basics UK Patron, the Reverend Kate Bottley.

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Deputy Mayor & Mayoress of Sheffield and representatives from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will also be in attendance.

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