Latest news with #SabrinaOakey
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Charity supports one in 16 babies in county
A charity which helps families with vulnerable babies says it is now supporting one in 16 of the boys and girls born in its county. Baby Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, provides starter packs full of essential items including nappies and clothes. It is holding its first sale of donated goods which cannot be handed out to raise money this weekend. Its founder said she was "very worried" about a rise in referrals over the last two years. Volunteers at Baby Basics fill moses baskets with everything from toiletries to blankets, toothpaste and even some treats. Sabrina Oakey, a co-founder of the charity, says knitted items are particularly important "because a lot of families who receive our packs may not have a Grandma or an Aunty or that family connection that can make those hand-made items". She is "very worried" about the number of families who need the service. "In the last two years alone, we've seen a 51% increase which is a huge rise in our referrals. "A lot of this is down to, we think, the rising cost of living, but also reduction of benefits for some families," she said. The charity has seen more families coming through who have both working parents but are still in need of essentials, she added. It expects to support around 500 babies this year, about one in 16 of those born in the county. Laura Holmes-Trevino, who looks after the charity's fundraising, said it was very grateful for all the items donated by the general public. But some of them cannot be used in the packs that get handed out. "Quite often, they are items for older babies, sometimes they are items for safety reasons we can't guarantee in the home of a newborn," she said. For the first time, Baby Basics is organising its very own boutique sale, so donated items can be turned into cash for the charity. It takes place in "The Gatherings" in the upper mall of the Grosvenor Centre on Saturday morning. The Department for Work and Pensions said: "£742 million has been made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials through the Household Support Fund." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Charity sees surge in baby starter pack referrals Family support charity reports 41% referrals rise Charity 'blown away' after 100 baby baskets collected Baby Basics
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Charity supports one in 16 babies in county
A charity which helps families with vulnerable babies says it is now supporting one in 16 of the boys and girls born in its county. Baby Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, provides starter packs full of essential items including nappies and clothes. It is holding its first sale of donated goods which cannot be handed out to raise money this weekend. Its founder said she was "very worried" about a rise in referrals over the last two years. Volunteers at Baby Basics fill moses baskets with everything from toiletries to blankets, toothpaste and even some treats. Sabrina Oakey, a co-founder of the charity, says knitted items are particularly important "because a lot of families who receive our packs may not have a Grandma or an Aunty or that family connection that can make those hand-made items". She is "very worried" about the number of families who need the service. "In the last two years alone, we've seen a 51% increase which is a huge rise in our referrals. "A lot of this is down to, we think, the rising cost of living, but also reduction of benefits for some families," she said. The charity has seen more families coming through who have both working parents but are still in need of essentials, she added. It expects to support around 500 babies this year, about one in 16 of those born in the county. Laura Holmes-Trevino, who looks after the charity's fundraising, said it was very grateful for all the items donated by the general public. But some of them cannot be used in the packs that get handed out. "Quite often, they are items for older babies, sometimes they are items for safety reasons we can't guarantee in the home of a newborn," she said. For the first time, Baby Basics is organising its very own boutique sale, so donated items can be turned into cash for the charity. It takes place in "The Gatherings" in the upper mall of the Grosvenor Centre on Saturday morning. The Department for Work and Pensions said: "£742 million has been made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials through the Household Support Fund." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Charity sees surge in baby starter pack referrals Family support charity reports 41% referrals rise Charity 'blown away' after 100 baby baskets collected Baby Basics
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wollaston charity supports one in 16 of a babies in county
A charity which helps families with vulnerable babies says it is now supporting one in 16 of the boys and girls born in its Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, provides starter packs full of essential items including nappies and is holding its first sale of donated goods which cannot be handed out to raise money this founder said she was "very worried" about a rise in referrals over the last two years. Volunteers at Baby Basics fill moses baskets with everything from toiletries to blankets, toothpaste and even some Oakey, a co-founder of the charity, says knitted items are particularly important "because a lot of families who receive our packs may not have a Grandma or an Aunty or that family connection that can make those hand-made items". She is "very worried" about the number of families who need the service."In the last two years alone, we've seen a 51% increase which is a huge rise in our referrals."A lot of this is down to, we think, the rising cost of living, but also reduction of benefits for some families," she charity has seen more families coming through who have both working parents but are still in need of essentials, she expects to support around 500 babies this year, about one in 16 of those born in the county. Laura Holmes-Trevino, who looks after the charity's fundraising, said it was very grateful for all the items donated by the general some of them cannot be used in the packs that get handed out."Quite often, they are items for older babies, sometimes they are items for safety reasons we can't guarantee in the home of a newborn," she said. For the first time, Baby Basics is organising its very own boutique sale, so donated items can be turned into cash for the takes place in "The Gatherings" in the upper mall of the Grosvenor Centre on Saturday Department for Work and Pensions said: "£742 million has been made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials through the Household Support Fund." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charity sees surge in baby starter pack referrals
A charity providing starter packs for newborns has reported a "shocking" increase in referrals for its services. Baby Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, supplies moses baskets filled with donated bed linen, toiletries, and clothing to support vulnerable families. The charity said it is now assisting one in 16 babies born in the county. Sabrina Oakey, co-founder of Baby Basics Northampton said: "Unfortunately, over the last five years, we've seen a 97% increase in our referrals, which is shocking." Founded in 2013, the charity provides support to new mothers facing financial hardship. If purchased, the average cost of each starter pack would total around £450. On Friday, Baby Basics distributed its 3,000th package to Growing Together, a Northampton-based wellbeing charity. Ms Oakey said the scale of support the charity provides is "both humbling and inspiring". She also highlighted that referrals are now coming from a range of sources, including NHS professionals, food banks, charities, social services, and frontline workers. "We're seeing more and more working families coming to us. When both parents are working and still can't afford essentials, this is a problem we shouldn't have," Ms Oakey added. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Family support charity reports 41% referrals rise Charity 'blown away' after 100 baby baskets collected Baby Basics UK
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charity sees surge in baby starter pack referrals
A charity providing starter packs for newborns has reported a "shocking" increase in referrals for its services. Baby Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, supplies moses baskets filled with donated bed linen, toiletries, and clothing to support vulnerable families. The charity said it is now assisting one in 16 babies born in the county. Sabrina Oakey, co-founder of Baby Basics Northampton said: "Unfortunately, over the last five years, we've seen a 97% increase in our referrals, which is shocking." Founded in 2013, the charity provides support to new mothers facing financial hardship. If purchased, the average cost of each starter pack would total around £450. On Friday, Baby Basics distributed its 3,000th package to Growing Together, a Northampton-based wellbeing charity. Ms Oakey said the scale of support the charity provides is "both humbling and inspiring". She also highlighted that referrals are now coming from a range of sources, including NHS professionals, food banks, charities, social services, and frontline workers. "We're seeing more and more working families coming to us. When both parents are working and still can't afford essentials, this is a problem we shouldn't have," Ms Oakey added. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Family support charity reports 41% referrals rise Charity 'blown away' after 100 baby baskets collected Baby Basics UK
