Almost 12,000 babies and children in Wales supported by baby banks in last year
In 2023 alone, 148 baby banks supported 199,180 children in the UK and the Channel Islands, including 11,889 in Wales
Last updated 25th Jul 2024
New figures from the Baby Bank Alliance reveal that nearly 12,000 babies and children in Wales received support from baby banks in 2023.
With 29% of children in Wales living in poverty, baby banks have responded by providing over 18,700 essential items such as warm clothes, books, baby toiletries, and equipment.
The Baby Bank Alliance reports a 54.4% increase in demand for their services across the UK from 2021 to 2023.
In 2023 alone, 148 baby banks supported 199,180 children in the UK and the Channel Islands, including 11,889 in Wales, 161,496 in England, 15,546 in Scotland, and 8,973 in Northern Ireland.
The Baby Bank Alliance believe the ongoing cost of living crisis, worsened by the pandemic, has severely impacted the development and health of babies and children, exacerbating poverty.
Tracey Morgan is the child and family organiser at Splice Children and Family Project Ltd in Bridgend, overseeing the baby bank which has been running since the start of 2018. The charity was established in 2005 and has been a registered charity since 2008 and are currently supporting 600 families.
Tracey said: “Each family holds a special place in our hearts and there is always a family story that stays with you such as when we were delivering Christmas hampers out to families and the little one wrote to a letter afterwards to us. It was saying how ‘mummy cried when the elves turned up at the door with food for Christmas’ - because they didn't have anything.
“We are really pleased to become members of the Baby Bank Alliance. With everybody coming together, hopefully it's going to give us a little bit of power with the local and UK government because there are so many families out there that need baby banks help.”