OUR BABY BOX PROJECT EXPANDS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES ACROSS ENGLAND

Wandsworth Council, a borough of South London, has partnered with The Children’s Foundation to launch a trial project, initially delivering Baby Boxes to help mothers who are under 21 or have been in the care system. Other councils across the country, including Brighton, Croydon, and Coventry have also enquired about rolling out the scheme in their authorities, drastically increasing the scale of delivery.

Inspired by the original Finnish baby box, our box is the first to take a development approach to a child’s well-being rather than focusing solely on their physical needs. Each box is packed with stimulating toys and books that encourage playing, laughing, reading, singing, and counting, as well as essential items such as a blanket, changing mat, bath towel, and thermometer, to help families get started.

When we launched the Baby Box project here in the North East in 2023, we were clear that our ambition was to eventually see a box in the hands of every first-time parent in England. Over the last year, we have delivered over 1000 Baby Boxes to families across the North East, easing the pressures of the cost of living crisis and giving babies the best start possible.

The project was created by listening to children, parents, midwives, family nurses, GPs, and experts on the 1001 critical days movement, to understand how important these early years are for shaping the rest of our lives. We are still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the Baby Box project speaks to two main focuses for the newly formed Child Poverty Taskforce as it develops the new national child poverty strategy. Not only reduces essential costs for parents, it also shines a light on the importance of our early years experiences and how they shape our communities of the future.

Alongside Wandsworth, Baby Boxes are now being delivered across Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Northumberland, and we hope to continue to scale the project to families across England in 2025. The Baby Box is a great way to support healthy baby development through simple everyday moments and we are already seeing the real-world impact that they are having. This project is a real-time example of the North East’s pioneering ability to create work that is going to positively change the lives of children and families across England.

Positive experiences early in life are closely associated with better performances at school, good emotional development, improved work outcomes, and better lifelong health. Tackling these issues is vital to levelling up. Since the project launched we have been contacted by parents from across England asking how they can receive a box and we would encourage local authority leaders to get in touch to discuss rolling out the project in their area.”

Talking about the project Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England said, “As a society we need to think family, this is why I am so delighted The Children’s Foundation have developed their baby box project, I want to congratulate everyone involved in the development of this brilliant initiative. This will have such an impact in supporting children to have the very best start in life’. ‘My team were so impressed with what it offered. They all commented this should be available nationwide to help parents feel more prepared and confident!”

Kate Stock, the cabinet member for children at Wandsworth Council, said: “The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are really, really critical and we recognise that some families are struggling with the cost of living to provide some essentials in those first months of a baby’s life.

“We are also conscious of the impact of child development and the need for there to be toys and books in the box so that can promote early learning and also promote bonding between the parent and the child.”

We have a target of raising £1 million to make sure every child gets the support that they need to thrive. Businesses are invited to ‘pay it forward’ by supporting the campaign as part of their festive community-giving campaigns. Businesses can also purchase a box for a colleague heading off on maternity or paternity, and a second box will be donated to a vulnerable family right here in the region.

Individuals who would like to support the campaign and improve the health and well-being of children and young people in the North East can donate £3 by texting ‘MAM to 70450.