What is a baby bank, how do I donate to one and how can I access support?
THE cost of living crisis has left many Brit families with young kids struggling.
To help, Fabulous is launching Baby, Bank On Us, in partnership with Save The Children, Little Village and baby banks across the UK.
But what is a baby bank, how can you support your local one and how can you access help if you're struggling?
What is a baby bank?
There are over 200 baby banks in the UK which are run out of everywhere from shops, community centres, warehouse units to people’s living rooms and garages.
Baby banks have a specialist focus on providing essential items for babies and young children of parents living in poverty.
These items include: nappies, wipes and toiletries, clothing and shoes, bedding, Moses baskets, cots and blankets, toys and books.
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Baby banks differ from food banks because they encourage donations of pre-loved items, making them sustainable for the planet.
Parents who use the banks often give back the items again to be reused by others once their child no longer needs it, allowing families to give back to the community that helped them when they were struggling is dignifying.
Many staff and volunteers at baby banks have become the heart of the communities they help.
How YOU can support Fabulous' Baby, Bank On Us campaign
- Give money by donating or by scanning the QR code.
- Give clothing, toys and essentials to a baby bank, wherever you are in the UK.
- Give your time volunteering. To find your nearest baby bank, visit .
How do baby banks work and how do they differ?
Baby banks vary significantly. A lot of baby banks work by referrals only – parents could be referred to their local baby bank by their GP, a social worker, counsellor or even teachers.
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Little Village, a London-based network, works with families who have been referred and they are then invited to drop by their local shop so staff and volunteers/staff help them.
Other baby banks, like Little Treasures in Horncastle, East Lincs, work by referrals as well but do not come into contact directly with families.
They operate out of a warehouse and items are delivered to families who have been referred.
Whereas others, like the Hartlepool Baby Bank, are open to anyone who drops by without a referral.
Many in this community see it as a place they can go for a cup of tea, companionship and general support.
Why is Fabulous launching this campaign and what are the aims?
Last year 4.2 million children in the UK were living in poverty and 800,000 children lived in a household that used a foodbank in 2022.
There is so much potential to grow the baby bank network in the UK so they can reach more families and continue with their incredible work.
Our community-focused initiative has three aims:
- Increasing local support for baby banks: Calling on the public to volunteer their time and donate second-hand children's items to their nearest baby bank.
- Raising vital funds: Boosting fundraising efforts to support the work of the baby banks.
- Uniting baby banks across the UK: Increasing understanding and raising awareness of the vital work baby banks do, and the benefits this brings families. Plus, improve resource sharing.
How could my donation help a baby bank?
Money raised from this campaign will go towards helping existing baby banks make sure they have everything they need to help families and assist with costs to keep them running.
We are also hoping to help new baby banks to open in areas where they are lacking.
Please donate to our fund by clicking or scanning our QR code.
- £5 could buy one pack of nappies and wipes for a family
- £10 could pay to deliver essentials an expectant mum needs for her newborn
- £20 could pay for a pre-loved buggy to be cleaned, gifting a mum with a young child the freedom to get out and about
- £30 could pay for hygiene packs with everything needed to keep a baby clean, dry and safe for a whole month
- £100 could pay for 5 children’s mattresses with bedding, keeping 5 young children safe and warm with a place to sleep
- £250 could pay for 8 safe sleeping packages: a Moses basket, new mattress and sheets to keep newborn babies safe and warm
- £500 could pay to deliver pre-loved newborn buggies to 25 families
- £1,000 could support a team of volunteers to call 900 families, so that they are less isolated and get the help they need
- £5,000 could pay for vital storage space to stock baby bank items for a whole year
- £15,000 could pay for a first employee at a baby bank for a year
What should I donate to my local baby bank?
Each baby bank will typically have a wish list of items they need. The ages they support varies, along with the storage they have available, so it’s always best to check with your local baby bank first.
It’s also important to only pass on clothes that are in good condition, with no stains or tears, so that baby banks don’t have to pay for waste disposal.
Please check with your local baby bank about what items they need, but they usually accept:
- Baby and children’s clothing (check with your local baby bank which ages/sizes they need most)
- Beds & bedding (moses basket to toddler bed)
- Buggies, slings & carriers
- Baby kit (e.g. playmats & baby gyms)
- Feeding & weaning kit
- Highchairs
- Toys & books (suitable for small spaces)
- Bathing & changing kit (e.g. changing mats & towels)
- Nappies & toiletries (for baby, toddler & mum)
The baby banks often don't accept the below for safety reasons so please don't bring:
- Used mattresses, breast pumps, bottles teats or toiletries
- Car seats & car accessories
- Hiking-style carriers
- Single beds, bunk beds or larger
- Furniture (e.g changing tables)
- Pregnancy or maternity items
- Nappy bins & refills
- Reusable nappies & wipes
- Baby food
- Food processors or milk prep machines
- Sleeping pods (e.g. Sleepyheads) or sleep positioners
- Cot bumpers or mobiles
- Curtains or blinds
- Medicines, vitamins & supplements
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How can I find my local baby bank if I'm struggling?
You can find your local baby bank by using the map .
If you don't live in , please see what other support could be .
BABY BANK LOCATIONS
BELOW is a selection of baby banks by region. See the web address at the end of the page to find contact details for all the country’s baby banks
- North West
Baby Basics Bolton & Bury, West Lancashire
Baby Basics Carlisle, Cumbria
Baby Basics South Lakes, Cumbria
Baby Basics, Cleator Moor, West Cumbria
Trafford Little Bundles, Lancashire
TippyToes BabyBank Preston, Lancashire
Salford Baby Bank, Lancashire
Snowdrop Doula CIC Burnley, Lancashire
Cascade Baby Bundles, Audenshaw, Cheshire
The Baby Room at Spinners, Leigh, Lancashire
The Healthy Gems Baby Bank, Oldham, Lancashire
NCT Mid Cheshire
NCT Preston Baby Bundles, Lancashire
KidsBank Chester, Cheshire
Motherwell Pass It On Baby Bank, Winsford, Cheshire
Hyndburn Baby Bank, Accrington, Lancashire
- North East
Growbaby Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
Love, Amelia, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
Birth Bath and Beyond, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Clothe and Feed South Shields, Tyne & Wear
Clothe and Feed Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
Rosie's Corner, Hexham, Northumberland
Stockton Baby Bank, County Durham
Darlington Baby Bank, County Durham
Baby Basics Darlington
Growbaby Hull, Yorkshire
Little Acorns Baby Bank Durham, County Durham
Hartlepool Baby Bank, County Durham
- North
Growbaby Teeside, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees
Baby Basics Leeds, West Yorkshire
Baby Basics Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Leeds Baby Bank, West Yorkshire
Baby Basics Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Birth Bath and Beyond Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Bradford Baby Bank, West Yorkshire
POPI Baby Bank Keighley, West Yorkshire
Rainbow Baby Bank Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire
Stepping Stones Baby Bank Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Calderdale Lighthouse, West Yorkshire
Tiny Hands Baby Bank Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Growbaby York, North Yorkshire
- South West
Ashley's Birthday Bank, Christchurch, Dorset
Baby Bank Network Bristol
Baby Basics Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Baby Basics Cornwall
Baby Basics Plymouth
Brighter Bristol Storehouse, Bristol
Baby Basics South, Ilminster, Somerset
Growbaby Tiverton, Devon
Children's Storehouse Plymouth, Devon
Uplift Tiverton, Devon
Exeter Baby Bank Network, Devon
Little Lighthouse Baby Bank Wythenshawe, Manchester
Baby Bundles Wiltshire
The Nest Project, Bath, Somerset
Gloucestershire Bundles, Gloucester
Open Door Exmouth, Devon
Forest of Dean Baby Bank, Gloucestershire
Small Stuff Baby Bank, Radstock, Somerset
Stroud District Kid's Stuff, Gloucestershire
Teignmouth Baby Bank, Devon
Ten Little Toes Baby Bank, Cowfold, West Sussex
Growbaby Swindon, Wiltshire
- South East
Baby Bank & Beyond (South Wealden) CIC (Hellingly), East Sussex
Sebby's Corner Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
Stevenage Babyshed, Hertfordshire
Baby Basics Billericay, Essex
Growbaby Whitstable, Kent
Growbaby Aylesbury, Bucks
Baby Basics Bromley, Kent
Best Start Baby Bank, Eastbourne, Sussex
Basildon Borough Baby Bank, Essex
Growbaby Maidstone, Kent
Growbaby Rayleigh, Essex
Baby Basics Chelmsford, Essex
Growbaby St Albans, Herts
Growbaby Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Precious Bundles Colchester, Essex
Fighting Chance Baby Bank, Petworth, West Sussex
Baby2Baby, East Sussex
Baby Basics Brighton
Baby Basics Dover & Deal, Kent
Baby Basics Englefield Green, Surrey
Baby Basics Folkestone, Kent
Baby Basics Willvern, Essex
First Days Reading, Berkshire
Baby Basics Hastings and Rother, East Sussex
Baby Basics, Grays, Kent
Baby Basics Shoreham, West Sussex
NCT Winchester Baby Bundles, Hampshire
NCT Woking Baby Bundles, Surrey
Pelican Parcels Brighton and Hove, Sussex
Baby Stuff Braintree, Essex
Tots 2 Teens Colchester baby bank, Essex
Stripey Stork, Reigate, Surrey
Sunshine Baby Bank Southend, Essex
The Baby Bank HQ Havering, Essex
The Baby Bank HQ Thurrock, Essex
Community Wardrobe Chelmsford, Essex
The Baby Bank Windsor, Berkshire
Growbaby Storehouse Ashford, Kent
Moses Basket Brentwood, Essex,
Growbaby Chelmsford, Essex
NCT Little Bundles Baby Bank Chichester & Arun, West Sussex
NCT Baby Bundles Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, Kent
Mama to Mama, Margate, Kent
Home-Start West Berkshire Baby Bank, Newbury, Berkshire
Growbaby, Wokingham, Berkshire
The Baby Bank HQ Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge, Essex
- South
Baby Basics Portsmouth, Hampshire
Baby Basics Guildford
Baby Branch Southampton, Hampshire
Baby Necessities Southampton, Hampshire
Portsmouth Baby Bank, Hampshire
- Channel Islands
Baby Basics Jersey
- London
214 SPACE Baby Bank Hub Brent
214 SPACE Baby Bank Hub Hammersmith & Fulham
214 SPACE Baby Bank Hub Kensington & Chelsea
Growbaby Lighthouse, Sutton, Greater London
Growbaby, Newham
Growbaby, Merton
Bromley Brighter Beginnings
Growbaby Purley
Baby Basics, Barnet
Cariad Baby Bank, Harrow
Growbaby Kingston upon Thames
Choices Boutique Islington
Cornerstone Baby Bank Leyton
Growbaby Wandsworth
Baby Basics Sunbury
Growbaby Enfield
Ealing Salvation Army Baby Bank
The Small Project South London
Tiny Toes, Tiny Feet, Northwood
Camberwell Baby Bank
Orchard Baby Bank, Woodford
Peabody Toddlers Clothes Bank, Ilford
Pram Depot Wood Green
Little Village (London-wide)
Mammakind Baby Bank, Greenwich
MerryGoRound Islington
Growbaby Hoxton
NCT Redbridge Baby Bundles
Hackney Children & Baby Bank
Ilford Salvation Army Baby Bank
Mama2Mama Woolwich
Lloyd Park Children's Charity Baby Bank Walthamstow
The Extra Mile, Hampton, Richmond Upon Thames.
- Midlands
Brierley Hill Baby Bank, Dudley, West Mids
Baskets of Joy Leicester
Growbaby Leicester
Alice Charity, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire
Growbaby Northampton
The Arches, Nottingham
High Peak Baby Bank, Buxton, Derbyshire
Growbaby, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Growbaby Bedworth, Warwickshire
Bicester Baby Bank, Oxfordshire
Elayos Baby Bank Birmingham
Baby Basics Wolverhampton
Growbaby Birmingham St Michaels Church
Baby Aid Birmingham
Baby Basics Warwick
Baby Godiva Coventry
Growkids Coventry
Baby Basics Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Baby Basics Long Eaton, Notts
Baby Basics Leicester
Baby Basics Northampton
Baby Basics Hinckley, Leicestershire
Growbaby Birmingham Vineyard City Centre Site
Tots in Need Walsall, West Mids
Spark Baby & Children's Bank Staffordshire
Staffordshire Baby Bank, Stafford, Staffs
Telford and Wrekin Baby and Toddler bank, Shropshire
Clothe and Feed Wallsend, Herefordshire
Little Stars Shropshire
Karis Baby Bank Central Birmingham
NCT Malvern Hills Baby Bundles, Worcs
Little Cherub's Baby Bank High Peak, Derbyshire
Growbaby Worcester
- Wales
Baby Basics Dryffryn Clwyd Denbigh
Baby Basics Vale of Glamorgan
Baby Basics Newtown
Baby Basics Swansea
Baby Basics Port Talbot
Baby Basics Wrexham
Cwtch Baby Bank Cardiff
Baby Basics Penrhiwceiber
Cariad a Cwtch Baby Bank Llandrindod Wells
Growbaby Cardiff
Pembrokeshire Baby Bank
Splice Baby Bank Bridgend
Bundles Baby Clothing and Birth Support, Newport
Bethel Baby Bank Port Talbot
NCT Cardiff Baby Bundles
Ely Baby Bank
Feed Newport Baby Bank
- Scotland
Bairn Necessities, Glasgow
AberNecessities, Aberdeen
Growbaby Fife
Baby Bank Scotland, Hamilton
Bairnecessities Aberdeenshire
Bear Necessities Airdrie
Togs for Tots Dundee
Glasgow Baby Food Bank
GRA Baby Bank Aberdeenshire
Nelly Boxes East Renfrewshire Baby Bank
No 1 Glasgow Baby & Family Support Service
Tiny Treasures Baby Bank Oban
Button and Bows Baby Bank Perth
Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Care
Misty Glen Baby Bank Fort William
Dingwall Primary Baby Bank
Moray Baby Bank
Monklands Baby and Family Clothing Aid
- East
Abi's Footprints, Sudbury, Suffolk
Baby Bank Norfolk
Baby Basics Lowestoft, Suffolk
Baby Basics West Norfolk
West Marsh Baby Bank, Lincolnshire
Suffolk Baby Bank, Bury Saint Edmunds
Baby's Basket, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Growbaby Thetford, Norfolk
Growkids Norwich, Norfolk
Fenland Family and Baby Bank, Cambridgeshire
GrowKids Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Little Family Baby Bank, Sutton On Sea, Lincolnshire
Little Treasures Baby Bank, Horncastle, East Lincolnshire
Little Bundles, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- Northern Ireland
Baby Basics Antrim & Newtonabbey
Baby Basics Ballymena
Baby Basics Belfast
Bump2Baby NI (Mid-Ulster Baby Bank)
Baby Basics Banbridge
Baby Basics Causeway
Baby Basics Magherafelt
Baby Basics Mullavilly
Growbaby Enniskillen
Carrickfergus Baby Bank