For so many, Christmas day really is the most wonderful time of the year. The tree, the presents, the Christmas lunch. It’s a magical day of joy and togetherness.
But for so many across the UK, Christmas couldn’t be more different.
And for mothers like Linda, Christmas is not a time for celebration, but one of survival.
Her newborn son is outgrowing his clothes faster than she can get new ones. She can’t pay her heating bills, let alone think about presents.
This is the reality for hundreds of thousands of families across the UK right now.
The hidden crisis on our doorstep
One in three children under the age of five in the UK lives in poverty. Over a million are living in destitution—meaning their families can't afford the absolute basics like food, heating, or clothing.
These aren't families who've made poor choices. They're working parents whose wages don't stretch far enough. Single parents facing childcare costs that make returning to work impossible. Families one unexpected bill away from crisis.
Linda and her husband live in Larne, Northern Ireland, just streets away from where she grew up. They have a six-year-old daughter, Annie, and five-month-old Alfie, born in December—the most expensive month of the year.
When Alfie arrived, everything hit at once. High fuel bills. A job change for Linda's husband. The added expense of Christmas. And Alfie, like all healthy babies, constantly feeding and growing out of his clothes.
Recovering from C-section complications, isolated at home while her husband worked to establish himself in his new role, Linda felt the pressure building. "I was feeling I couldn't provide for him," she said.
The moment everything changed
A health visitor noticed Linda's low mood and suggested something Linda had never heard of before: a baby bank.
At first, she hesitated. Surely others needed it more? But with encouragement, she registered for a newborn baby pack.
What arrived felt like a lifeline.
New clothes for Alfie. Baby lotion. Blankets, just as the cold weather set in. Suddenly, the impossible weight lifted.
"It felt like somebody had given me a real gift," Linda said. "I don't know what I would've done without the baby bank."
Baby banks have become essential infrastructure in the UK. Five years ago, most people had never heard of them. Now, demand has risen by over 400% since 2020. They provide families with essential items—nappies, clothes, feeding equipment, toys—donated by the community and distributed by volunteers who understand what it's like to struggle.
For Linda, it wasn't just about the physical items. It was about feeling seen, supported and connected to people who cared.
"The volunteers are the friendliest people," she said. "Don't be nervous or afraid to come and ask for help because it's worth it."
Christmas through a different lens
When we think about child poverty, we often think about children in faraway places. But it's happening here. In Larne. In London. In towns and cities across the country.
It's the family choosing between heating and eating. The parent skipping meals so their children can have enough. The child wearing shoes two sizes too small because new ones aren't in the budget.
This shouldnt be the reality for any family. But in one of the top wealthiest countries in the world, it’s a travesty.
But it's real. And this Christmas, it will touch the lives of millions of children.
How Save the Children helps families in the UK
Save the Children has been working in the UK for years, supporting families through some of the hardest moments of their lives.
We founded and support the Baby Bank Alliance with other organisations, connecting families like Linda's to essential items when they need them most. We provide emergency grants to help parents keep the lights on and food on the table. We work with partners across the country to ensure children have access to the support that keeps them safe, healthy, and able to thrive.
Linda's baby bank is part of Home-Start East Antrim, one of the many organisations we work with to reach families in crisis. The volunteers who run it are local people who understand the pressures parents face and who show up, week after week, to make sure no family falls through the cracks.
Give a gift that matters this Christmas
Linda's story could be any family's story. A job change. An unexpected expense. The rising cost of everything, all at once.
But with the right support at the right time, families can get through it. They can relax, and know they can give their children what they need. Maybe even give their children the Christmas they deserve.
This year, your donation could provide a baby bank with the essentials a struggling parent needs. It could fund emergency support that keeps a family in their home. It could be the gift that changes everything for a child in the UK.
This Christmas, give a gift that matters. Support children in the UK today.
About the Baby Bank Alliance
The Baby Bank Alliance is founded by Save the Children, Purposeful Ventures, Little Village and Bristol Baby Bank Network. Purposeful Ventures is a registered charity (1204622) in England and Wales. Save the Children is a registered company limited by guarantee (Company No. 178159), registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 213890), Scotland (SC039570) and Isle of Man (No. 199).
