Erdington Baby Bank, a volunteer-run initiative in Birmingham, has already fulfilled its 200th request for aid since opening in January, providing essential baby bundles to families across the city facing severe financial hardship. The milestone comes as new data reveals the West Midlands has the highest rate of child poverty in the country, with multiple Birmingham areas among the worst affected.
From frustration to action
Co-founder Alicia, 51, a lifelong Erdington resident, launched the baby bank alongside her husband Scott after years of witnessing the devastating impact of child poverty through various organisations. The couple decided to take direct action, opening the bank at Scallywags at The Fort in Erdington.
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Alicia expressed a mix of pride and anger: "It's a two-sided coin. It feels good to know that we're helping and we're supporting and we're giving people the items that they need. But the flip side to that is that I am really quite angry that we need to do this in the first place."
Her frustration is rooted in a stark reality: the West Midlands has the highest child poverty rate in England, according to End Child Poverty. Alicia's determination was sparked by BirminghamLive's own campaign on the crisis, which she says spurred her to develop the support facility.
What the baby bank provides
The bank supplies packages of baby clothing, bedding, Moses baskets, cots, and other essentials for children up to five years old. Hygiene packs are a particularly critical need, with Alicia noting that parents often face an impossible choice: "Do we feed ourselves or do we clean our children?" She added, "That's not right. Not in any way shape or form."
Since its first referral in January, the bank has met 200 requests, a testament to both the scale of need and the dedication of its team members and trustees. Yet Alicia remains concerned about the wider crisis: "My big thing is children today are tomorrow's adults. This is our future. If we cannot provide the basics that our children need, how do we make them into productive adults for the future that are not recovering from their childhood?"
How to access support
Parents or guardians in Birmingham who are struggling can access the baby bank's services through a referral from their midwife, GP, or charities such as Spurgeons or Barnardo's. Alicia emphasised that the process is designed to preserve dignity: "The referring agency deals with the service user. There is no dignity issue. We ask for very, very little information, just for a postcode so we can find out where the most need is [in Birmingham]."
The only other personal question asked is about the family's accommodation type, to ensure the goods provided are suitable. For more information, families can contact EBBConnectFort@outlook.com.
Donating to the cause
Donations are welcome at Scallywags at The Fort from Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 3pm. The most requested items include Moses baskets and stands, unisex baby clothing, bedding, hygiene products, baby bath, baby lotion, baby shampoo, sponges, wipes, and nappies. The bank accepts most items but cannot take car seats, electrical items, talcum powder, or camouflage clothing.
Alicia expressed heartfelt gratitude for the public's generosity: "The one thing that overwhelms me and I am absolutely astounded by is these people's generosity. We've literally survived from January to this point with no funding, and it's all been donation." The couple has personally funded some bundles, but last week they received a portion of funding, which Alicia called "brilliant."
