Baby Bank Faces Soaring Demand, Urgent Appeal for Donations Launched

Leeds Baby Bank is issuing an urgent appeal for donations as it experiences a "massive increase" in demand for essential baby supplies. The charity, founded in 2017, has seen an "unprecedented" number of referrals from health and social care professionals in recent months.

Chantal Nogbou, founder of Leeds Baby Bank, stated that the organization has assisted 550 families in Leeds since the beginning of June and anticipates further demand as winter approaches. "We get even more people needing help then because they want to put the heating on, but they still need to buy nappies and feed and clothe their child," Nogbou explained.

The charity, which will mark its 10th anniversary in January, has observed a shift in the demographic of families requiring assistance. "When we started, pre-Covid, maybe one in five children in Leeds lived in relative poverty," Nogbou said. "Now, you're looking at one in two children in some parts, and that's just a shocking number that really shouldn't be happening."

Nogbou highlighted that approximately 70% of the children they support have at least one parent who is employed, with many struggling to cover bills due to rising energy and fuel costs. Government statistics indicate that 27% of children in the Yorkshire and Humber region live in relative low-income families, a proportion equal to the West Midlands and the highest in the country. A family is considered to be in relative low income if their household income is less than 60% of the median national household income for that year.

The increasing number of referrals has placed additional financial strain on the charity, particularly following its relocation from a city centre office to a larger facility in Armley. This move allows the baby bank to offer more services, but has also led to increased operational costs, including utilities. "All that has cost money and obviously bills for us have also gone up when it comes to the utilities, so it's definitely a scary thing as a charity," Nogbou commented.

Nogbou emphasized the critical role of community donations, both in kind and monetary. "It's the people that, instead of buying a coffee every day, set up a direct debit and send £5 to Leeds Baby Bank every month," she said. "That £5 can buy something like a brand new mattress for a Moses basket."