Lorraine’s Big Baby Bank Appeal to help support families in need
This November, Lorraine is launching a special appeal to support baby banks across the UK.
Lorraine’s Big Baby Bank Appeal, in partnership with The Baby Bank Alliance and Morrisons supermarket, will help provide essential items for families experiencing hardship this winter.
In a survey commissioned exclusively for the campaign by Baby Bank Alliance, 96% of individuals agreed that the cost of living crisis is continuing to impact family finances with new figures from 148 baby banks showing that 199,180 babies and children have been supported by them in 2023.
Find your nearest baby bank
With 4.3 million children now living in poverty and 1 million in destitution, as well as the cost of living crisis continuing to put increasing pressure on families, baby banks are a lifeline for many.
As a recent new grandmother to Billie, Lorraine is passionate to ensure that all babies have the best possible start in life. Morrisons are be supporting the appeal by providing dedicated donation points in all 497 of their stores across England, Wales, and Scotland. The supermarket chain will then work with local baby banks to distribute the donated items.
Monday’s Lorraine featured a powerful installation displaying 30 baby high-chairs - 21 laden with food and 9 left empty, symbolising the startling statistics in a typical UK classroom where 1 in 3 children live in poverty with no access to nutritious meals.
How to support a baby bank
Items most in need:
Nappies
Wipes
Bottles and teats
Toiletries for both new mums and babies
Lorraine said: "Becoming a grandmother has been the most magical experience for me but every child deserves the best start in life - and I hope we can all come together to make a real difference here.
“Baby banks do incredible work to ensure that families don't have to struggle to provide the early years essentials for so many and I’m so proud to be able to launch this appeal to help even more of those that need support across the UK.”
Powered by local communities, over 300 baby banks across the UK provide a vital lifeline for families in all sorts of challenging circumstances. They create warm, caring places for families to access equipment, products, clothes and toys for their children.
Hannah Pentith, Executive Lead of the Baby Bank Alliance said: “Times are hard for so many families. More than 4.3 million children in the UK currently live in poverty and baby banks are often a lifeline for families, at a time when the cost of living continues to punish the poorest in our society. This winter families face impossible choices on tight budgets, taking extreme steps such as nappy rationing, sleeping on the floor and not turning on their heating.
“We estimate that around 400,000 babies and children were supported by the UK’s 300+ baby banks in the last year alone, and the demand is rising. We are delighted that Lorraine is launching this appeal to support the nation’s baby banks. Donations of essential products such as nappies, wipes and toiletries will make a real difference to families. Lorraine’s support will demonstrate the valuable impact of baby banks up and down the country and help even more families in need.”
Northern Ireland collection points
Living in Northern Ireland? You can support Lorraine’s Big Baby Bank Appeal by donating the products directly to one of the following baby banks - all members of the Baby Bank Alliance.
Baby Basics Ballymena- Ballymena BT43 6BW
Home – Start East Antrim- First Larne Presbyterian Church, Basement Entrance, 2 Larne Road, Larne BT40 3BW
Carrickfergus Baby Bank- The Open Door Centre, Carrickfergus. BT38 8JW
Antrim Baby Bank- BT41 1LZ
Basics Magherafelt- Magherafelt BT45 6AP
Baby Basics Belfast 252 Ballygomartin Road, Belfast BT13 3NG
East Belfast Baby Bank, St John's Orangefield Church of Ireland, 397 Castlereagh Road