Baby Bank Helps Mothers Impacted By Coronavirus

A Baby Bank has been set up in Birmingham to help mothers impacted by Coronavirus.

The Baby Bank was set up by Birmingham City Councillor Nicky Brennan and Kirsten Kurt Eli in a bid to help families in poverty finding life more difficult following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Volunteers help deliver essential baby items such as nappies, baby food and milk to familes with low incomes or that are in crisis.

The first lot of baby deliveries ready to go this morning to help families in need across Birmingham 💛👶🍼 pic.twitter.com/SeVr08KZgr

— Brum Baby Bank (@BrumBabyBank) April 20, 2020

Councillor Brenann said that they have helped around 350 families to date, a typical day would be packing orders for volunteers to collect and drive to clients.

Some days, there can be 30-40 deliveries in a single day.

Special pack put together for a little baby soon to discharged from hospital. His mum is currently living in a bed and breakfast.

To help us help more families in need please consider donating 👉 https://t.co/CUDgE1zMNb #brumtogether #brumkind pic.twitter.com/1XwBPglHIb

— Brum Baby Bank (@BrumBabyBank) April 23, 2020

Pregnant women have been placed in a vulnerable category, the NHS says they should be ‘particularly stringent in following social distancing measures’.

Last week, Brum Baby Banked helped a woman who was heavily pregnant and that had recently fled an abusive relationship.

Councillor Brenann says that she “didn’t have anything for her baby as she had to leave things behind.” The volunteers provided her with a ‘newborn essentials pack’.

CHILD POVERTY

Turn2us, a charity that helps people in finacinal hardship called the need for Baby Banks a ‘damning indictment’.

Sara Willcocks, Head of Communications at Turn2us, said;

“There are already 8.3 million adults and 4.6 million children living in poverty in the UK. The need for Baby Banks, and the fact that charity has become the new normal, is another damning indictment on the inequalities that exist within our society.”

In 2016, an independent review commissioned by Birmingham City Council found that 37% of all children in Birmingham live in poverty.

Councillor Brennan said; “Coronavirus is definitely exposing child poverty in the city and also the lack of support networks some families have”

According to research carried out by Turn2Us, 10.5 million children are facing financial crisis due to lost income.

It says an increase in people strugglling will ‘exacerbate the problems that already exist’.

Sara Willcocks said; “We urge the government to work with charities within the sector to produce a complete poverty reduction strategy, so that babies born today can thrive tomorrow.”

If you need help, you can contact BrumBabyBank via email: brumbabybank@gmail.com