Help for families with babies and young children this Christmas

This Christmas, led by The Princess of Wales, The Centre for Early Childhood is working to get essential goods and basic necessities to families, by supporting Baby Banks, in the run up to Christmas. 

A third of people cite financial challenges as the biggest issue facing parents and carers in 2023 according to The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood latest issues index. 

More than one in four families where the youngest child is under five years of age are living in poverty in the UK and one million children are facing destitution. Families are having to make impossible choices between paying the bills, buying food or turning the heating on.  

There are more than 200 baby banks working across the UK, powered by their local communities, providing a vital lifeline for families in all sorts of challenging circumstances.   

All of them are currently seeing rising demand for their services.  

There are lots of ways to get involved and help, either by donating products, goods, pre-loved items or funds to your local baby bank, volunteering your time, or offering corporate support and storage space.

Use the interactive map below to find your local baby bank and get more information on how you can help.

If you are in need of help and support this Christmas, please know that it is available.  

Staff and volunteers at baby banks want to help. They create warm, caring places for families to access equipment, products, clothes and toys to help relieve some of the stress and strain which can create such significant pressure on people caring for babies and young children. 

Reach out to your local baby bank for details on how access their services or see our “Find Help and Resources” page for information about wider help available.

A national Baby Bank Alliance is due to launch in 2024, so baby banks from across the UK can come together as one voice and boost the impact of the incredible work they are doing to support families across the country. The Alliance wants to ensure that all baby banks can access the funding, goods, volunteers, and practical support they need to be the most effective they can be.   For any baby banks that would like to find out more about joining the Baby Bank Alliance please email info@babybankalliance.org.

Our experiences, relationships, and surroundings during early childhood – from pregnancy to the age of five – lay the foundations that shape the rest of our lives. Supporting parents and carers, who are doing their best to provide for their families in incredibly challenging circumstances, is essential and can have a life-changing impact.