A leading baby bank charity has revealed the extent of the cost of living crisis they are facing this winter.  

Baby Basics UK, which was founded in Sheffield, has told Sky News there are over 50 children in the city waiting for a proper bed or cot.

Demand for their help has jumped by almost a third while donations have slowed down.

“We have got babies sleeping long term in travel cots,” charity chief executive Cat Ross said.

“We have got two-year-olds sleeping in pushchairs, we have got babies co-sleeping with parents which isn’t the ideal situation for mother or baby.

“It is really heartbreaking that for the first time we are having to make the decisions as to who gets the beds that we have.

“The knock-on for families is that kids aren’t sleeping, you have got four-year-olds sleeping on a sofa that are now in school – how are they going to get through the school day?

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“If a child is tired because they have been sleeping in a pushchair, and then you haven’t got food to feed them breakfast and you can’t give them a warm bed… it’s hard.

“Some of these families are working families with two parents working and they still can’t make ends meet and something has got to change.”

28% rise in demand

The charity has seen a 28% rise in demand for their services in Sheffield and it’s a picture that is replicated in their hubs around the UK.

Last week the Princess of Wales visited their centre in Swansea and praised their volunteers for the work they are doing supporting vulnerable families.

“We have got a rise in demand and a reduction in donations,” Ms Ross said.

“People will now sell stuff on eBay after they’ve used it rather than donate it which I completely understand.”

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She said the number of families being drawn into hardship was growing every week.

“Our midwives in Sheffield are holding a minimum caseload of 90.

“In some areas of our city that caseload of 90, potentially 90% of them will need help from us.

“Ultimately if that bed is not provided those families will need further support from social services… so the cost for our local authority is huge.”

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She acknowledged that the government has intervened with support packages but said it still isn’t enough in the face of spiralling bills.

“The money that has been given to everybody for energy and the U-turn in National Insurance are all things going to help but they are not going to meet the needs of those people right now,” she added.

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