News

Shaping Us campaign from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Baby Basics is proud to support the #ShapingUs campaign from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, spearheaded by HRH The Princess of Wales. We are thankful for them continuing to highlight the importance of the early years in shaping healthy, happy adults and calling for recognition of “The life-changing impact we can have when we create a supportive & nurturing world around children, and those who care for them”. Many of the families referred to Baby Basics find themselves, for many different reasons, needing extra support, whether physically, financially, or emotionally. We appreciate that what we do is a small but essential part of the holistic approach that is crucial if we want to see real change. If you want to help change the experience of a child by supporting your local Baby Basics centre, please find more information here http://www.baby-basics.org.uk/other-locations 

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What an honour!

Our CEO, Cat Ross, has been invited by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to be part of a team of 8 taking part in the Bloomberg/Harvard City Leadership Initiative – focusing on health inequalities in the early years.

This includes an intensive week of teaching, researching & planning in NYC (All cost covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies). We are excited to be working with other key leaders in South Yorkshire from NHS, LA’s & Sheffield Hallam University.

Cat’s hope is that not only will we see plans to improve lives for 0-5yr olds in South Yorkshire but the implementation can be replicated across other areas of the UK.

2022 Statistics

As 2022 comes to a close we want to say a massive thank you to every person who has volunteered, donated, funded and cheered us on this year. Baby Basics wishes everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Baby Basics has supported 43662 children and their families this year.

Update on Support for Ukraine Referrals

Due to the high level of demand we are PAUSING our support for Ukrainian families arriving in the UK.

We will reopen for referrals on Monday 13th June.

If you submit a referral before then it will be deleted.

This will allow us to catch up with present referrals that have been submitted.

Thank you for your understanding.

9 women creating change in their communities – Featuring Baby Basics CEO, Cat Ross

Our wonderful CEO was featured in the Action Funder blog celebrating International Women’s Day.

“When Cat was offered the chance to lead baby basics she jumped at it with both hands. Baby basics started in Sheffield in 2009 with the aim of supporting families struggling to meet the financial demands of looking after a new baby. Under Cat’s leadership, the charity has grown into a country-wide network of centres supporting vulnerable families.

“It is so amazing to lead an organisation that is passionate about making a difference to vulnerable families at a local level.” “

Read the full blog here https://www.actionfunder.org/8-women-creating-change-in-their-community/?fbclid=IwAR3KkPmZYxD_X1xa03v0HfT_m8DokJDAZpvT8t9B0bdZRRRVU5lgMcxcCHg

Charities in Norfolk say they’ve seen parents struggling with the pressures of the pandemic

Hear Maggie from Baby Basics West Norfolk giving a fantastic interview on ITV News about parents struggling with the pressures of the pandemic.

“People just aren’t able to cope. And then they feel worthless and they’re not they’re not worthless. They just need somebody to show them that they can be worthy and have dignity.”
– Maggie Anderson, Centre Leader, Baby Basics West Norfolk

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-10-01/charities-in-norfolk-say-parents-are-struggling-with-pressures-of-the-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR09hQkLLDgGwDEk9l0Z1x8UROzC0ygNPI09ZE0pXctK9YPHqU6C6GNB-xA

More than 17,000 new items donated to Afghan refugee families in UK

“Baby Basics, a national charity based in Sheffield, is working with the Home Office and a coalition of charities called Afghan Welcome to deliver essential equipment to hotels where Afghans are quarantining after fleeing the Taliban.” Read more on The Guardian’s article.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/01/more-than-17000-new-items-donated-to-afghan-refugee-families-in-uk


Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian