London, June 2nd 2025 - Bestselling author, actress, mum, and podcast host Giovanna Fletcher has joined forces with Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance to shine a light on the growing demand for baby banks across the UK - and the challenges they face in meeting that demand.
The Baby Bank Alliance supports and advocates for more than 400 baby banks nationwide, providing crucial funding, building networks and helping raise awareness of the crucial work they do.
Together, these baby banks are a lifeline for families, offering essential items like clothing, nappies, toys, prams, and more. Often run by volunteers from community halls, warehouses and even front rooms - baby banks provide a safe, supportive service for families in need.
In 2024 alone, UK baby banks supported 219,637 families - an increase of 35% on the previous year and distributed more than 3.5 million items*.
Despite their incredible impact, most baby banks are stretched to the limit. Exclusive new data from the Baby Bank Alliance reveals that 65% of baby banks are receiving more requests for help than they can meet and 69% report having waiting lists for key items - especially large essentials like cots, buggies, and prams*.
Executive Lead at the Baby Bank Alliance Dani Adams said;
“Families shouldn't have to worry about having a safe space for their children to sleep, or whether they have enough clothes to keep them warm, but the sad reality is that they are. Millions of items are being handed out each year, but the reality is that baby banks are struggling to keep up with increasing demand. With Giovanna’s support, we hope to raise awareness and drive real change, so no child is left without the basics.”
Giovanna Fletcher recently visited three baby banks in Leeds, Bedford and Bicester - to see first-hand how important they are to communities. Following the visits, she said:
“Baby banks do vital, often unseen work - and I’m proud to support the Baby Bank Alliance as they support baby banks to help the families and communities who need them most.”
She added: “I was amazed at how much work goes into running baby banks and how reliant they are on the goodwill of strangers. What they do is truly remarkable. It’s heartbreaking to think how many families would be lost without their support.”
During the visit to Bicester Baby Bank, Giovanna Fletcher met Adam, a single dad of two who talked about the support he received when he started using the service more than a year ago; “It was difficult asking for help at the start as it wasn’t something I was used to doing but they did so much to help me find my feet. So many people don’t know the support exists. They’ve helped a lot of people who are really struggling”
The cost-of-living crisis and the devastating effects of the pandemic have significantly affected many babies and young children, hindering their development and shaping an uncertain future. Together, these challenges are trapping more children in poverty. The two-child limit has only intensified these hardships for families - policy that Save the Children is calling on the UK Government to abolish.
Director of UK Impact at Save the Children UK Dan Paskins said:
“There are a record number of children living in poverty in the UK who are unable to cover the basics. That’s 4.5 million children that are struggling, and almost half of them are under the age of four*. The rise in poverty is felt every day in communities where baby banks are desperately trying to help families - often failing to meet the demand. Scrapping the two-child limit to benefits and the benefit cap would be a start in alleviating the pressure not only on families but also the baby bank community. The UK Government’s long-awaited child poverty strategy is a pivotal moment to begin making positive changes for children.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
* Baby Bank Alliance Annual Survey Data, May 2025
*Figures from the DWP Households below Average Income figures released March 2025
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).