Baby banks supported more than 15,500 families in Scotland last year

Baby banks supported more than 15,000 children across Scotland in 2023, figures show.

The newly-formed Baby Bank Alliance, made up of charities including Save the Children, is demanding the UK Government urgently addresses the “unacceptable” figures.

Data collated from baby banks across the country shows 15,546 families were supported in 2023, with almost 84,000 items including clothes and products to keep children clean and healthy distributed in this time.

Across the UK, 161,496 children in England, 11,880 in Wales and 8,973 in Northern Ireland were also supported by baby banks.

Jodie, a mother from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, received support from a bank run by Gordon Rural Action.

As a single mother, she said the service helped her ensure her son Jayden had the best start in life despite the significant financial constraints she faced.

“I have to make sure Jayden gets the best life, and I just look after myself after,” she said.

“Jayden’s portion sizes are going up so I’m lessening mine, I’m a single mum too, so it’s difficult especially in a cost-of-living crisis.”

It comes as the UK Government faces pressure to scrap the two-child benefit cap which restricts child welfare payments to the first two children born for most families.

Earlier this year, figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed 26,000 families in Scotland were impacted by the policy, with campaigners warning ministers to make child poverty eradication a “priority”.

Hannah Pentith, executive lead of the Baby Bank Alliance, said: “These new figures reveal the shocking scale of child poverty in the UK and the urgency of action needed to tackle it.

“Bringing a child into the world is one of the most precious moments for any parent, and yet so many begin this journey without the essentials every baby needs.

“It’s unacceptable that parents or carers should be agonising over the cost of everyday items.

“Some children don’t have the little things we all take for granted every day, a book to read, a warm blanket to cuddle up with or a pram so mum and dad can take them to the park. The impact of this can follow a child for the rest of their lives.

“Baby banks are stepping up by normalising reuse of essentials, protecting the planet, alleviating the impact of material deprivation and building a community to help each other through difficult times.”

Sophie Livingstone, chairwoman of the Alliance, urged the UK Government to make child poverty a priority.

She said: “With stubbornly high child poverty rates, there has never been a more important time for baby banks to unite so they can keep reaching the families that need them and to make sure the new UK Government makes tackling child poverty the priority it should be.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “No child should be in poverty and the mass dependence on baby banks is unacceptable.

“We will take bold action alongside the Scottish Government to support families right away, by developing an ambitious strategy to reduce poverty, tackle inequality and make work pay.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “No one should have to compromise on food or other essentials.

“Our five family payments, including Scottish child payment, the best start grants and best start foods, could be worth over £10,000 by the time an eligible child turns six, and around £25,000 by the time an eligible child turns 16.

“As of March 2024, more than 329,000 under-16s were benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment and it is estimated the payment could keep 60,000 children out of relative poverty in 2024/25.

“Over three years, our £1.8 million cash-first programme will strengthen urgent access to cash in a crisis, helping to reduce need for food banks.

“Our universal baby box programme is unique to the UK and, since launch, over 300,000 boxes have been distributed to families across Scotland providing essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life, saving families around £400 on the individual cost.

“The infant food insecurity toolkit provides local areas with the information they need so that families with babies can get advice on appropriate routes to access infant formula milk safely through health professionals and other local service providers.”