10,000 baby bundles a year to be handed to parents

An expansion of support for newborn babies will see up to 10,000 comprehensive ‘baby bundles’ handed to families in Greater Manchester each year.

In her next policy announcement after being elected city region Mayor last Thursday, Bev Craig said she believed her pledge to ‘support to families in need at the moment the baby’s born’ was ‘a gamechanger’ which would have positive repercussions for children later in life.

The baby bundle, which is contained inside a Moses basket designed for safe sleeping, contains a brand new mattress, seasonal clothes for baby’s first three months, toiletries for both mum and baby and some soft toys and books.

Presently, around 1,500 of the bundles are distributed to new mums and dads after referral from the NHS or local authorities in Greater Manchester, each year.

Ms Craig said the expansion to 10,000 such bundles being available every year was designed to ‘end the post code lottery’ across the region, and that she wanted ‘everyone in need to be able to get one’.

Speaking during a visit to Leigh Family Hub, she said: “We have a Moses basket full of everything a mum and dad will need in baby’s first couple of months.

“Part of this is recognising that sadly for too many people across Greater Manchester not every child is getting the best start in life.

“Families might be experiencing financial pressure and hardship, people maybe stuck in temporary accommodation.

“Not everybody gets to experience the joy of going out and buying a cot and all the beautiful things that you get when a baby is on the way.

“It’s about a helping hand, not a give-away but a gateway to the whole support system that’s out there.

“It’s saying to mums and dads at the moment their life changes with a new baby that there’s support on hand.

“We want a region where a good start helps everyone thrive.”

Elsie Wakefield runs the Baby Bank in Leigh, based at Spinners Mill.

She said: “The bundles provide a safe place for sleep with the Moses basket and a brand new mattress.

“They have all the essential toiletries that mum and baby will need and clothing right through from birth until three months.

“The clothing is also seasonally appropriate so if it is winter they’ll have a pram suit or thick coat and in summer more lightweight clothing.

“Some families are in very difficult situations through no fault of their own, that could be financial, it could be fleeing domestic violence or that they’re in temporary accommodation.

“They don’t always have the essential items that they need.”

Ms Craig added that early intervention and providing support would have benefits for children later in life.

“If we don’t get those first 1,000 days right of a young child’s life then too often the statistics say their life chances have already been determined,” she said.

“Let’s get in early, offer support for mums and dads and get that young baby off to the best start and that will reap dividends during the course of their life, in school, in college and in their place of work.”