THE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO ROLL OUT BABY BOX PROJECT TO TACKLE CRITICAL LEVELS OF CHILD POVERTY

The Baby Box project, developed by the team here at The Children’s Foundation, directly addresses two of the four key areas outlined in the Government’s National Child Poverty Strategy.

Our CEO Sean Soulsby said, “The Baby Box project speaks to two main focuses for the Child Poverty Taskforce. Not only does it reduce essential costs and financial worries for parents, but it also supports and champions the importance of our early years experiences and how they shape our communities of the future.

“Our overall mission is to provide every first-time parent and their baby in the North East with a Baby Box and in time we would also like to see every first-time parent identified through the Vulnerable Parent Pathway and Healthy Child + pathway be given access to a Baby Box. The project has already been positively received by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) with funding awarded to deliver 1450 Baby Boxes to first-time vulnerable mothers (parents) by the end of August 2025 across 6 of the combined local authority areas. The Baby Box project forms part of NECA’s Child Poverty Prevention Programme working within the 1001 critical days to systematically address the causes and symptoms of child poverty and reduce the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on babies and children from conception to school age.

“The Baby Box project addresses inequality from pregnancy and helps improve the life chances of all children regardless of where they are born and we are calling on the government to show its commitment to tackling child poverty with this project.”

We are asking for the National Child Poverty Strategy to recommend in its policy that as a minimum;

• Provision of Baby Boxes to all first-time parents meeting specific Vulnerable Parent/Healthy Child Plus equivalent criteria across the North East of England. Include teenage parents and care leaves.
• Provision of Baby Boxes to all first-time parents meeting specific vulnerable parent/Healthy Child Plus equivalent criteria across England (including teenage parents and care leaves).
• A commitment is made by central government to match fund local NHS Trusts/Combined Authorities regionally to provide Baby Boxes.
• Provide support and representation at the National Steering Group for Baby Boxes, chaired by The Children’s Foundation.

Speaking 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 has 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 was so impressed with what it offered. They all commented this should be available nationwide to help parents feel more prepared and confident!”

Sean continued, “Effective referral pathways exist between The Children’s Foundation and eight NHS Trusts/Local Authorities, including one London Borough Council. Midwives and Health Visitors refer women from 20 weeks of pregnancy. Boxes are delivered directly to the family’s homes at around 34 weeks of pregnancy.

Up to and including 31st January 2025, we have received 1561 referrals for North East families since the project started. In February 2024 the Baby Box project was named in the North East Child Poverty Commission’s ‘No Time to Wait’ blueprint for actions report as one practical intervention under Priority Three, ‘A best start in life for the next generation’. Impact shows that the project can potentially address child poverty on a national level.”