Latest news with #familysupport
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lincolnshire baby banks report rapid rise in demand for services
Organisations supporting families with babies say they have seen a rapid rise in demand for their banks provide donated nappies, cots, clothes and other items to parents in Bennett, founder of the Market Rasen Baby Bank, in Lincolnshire, said the number of users had risen from 19 to 76 over the last six described the increase in demand as "quite disturbing". "I would say a large percentage of service users are your average working family – money just isn't stretching to the end of the month," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service."Nobody has any contingencies, every little penny is just going into living."Even households where both parents were working were struggling, particularly with nursery fees, Ms Bennett figures from an annual survey by the national Baby Bank Alliance show that 220,000 families across the UK were supported by baby banks in 2024, up from 163,000 in the previous than 3.5-million items were distributed last year, marking a 143% increase on the previous Bain, director of Little Treasures Baby Bank, in Horncastle, said she had also seen a noticeable rise in referrals, where items are requested through healthcare explained that before the start of this year, the baby bank typically received between two and four referrals a week, but that figure had now doubled."The number of items in a referral has doubled as well," Ms Bain added, noting that larger items such as cots and travel systems were particularly in baby bank has recently put out an urgent appeal on social media for unused and unwanted to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
New child protection laws with a focus on safety, set to pass SA parliament
The South Australian government has secured enough support from the state's crossbench to pass its proposed new child protection laws, despite warnings from advocates that the reforms risk "sidelining" children. On Tuesday, Greens MLC Robert Simms and independent MLC Frank Pangallo announced they would support the government's Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Bill, which proposes several reforms to the state's child protection and family support systems. Their support means the government has enough votes in parliament's upper house to secure the passage of the legislation through parliament. "This generational reform has been hard, but generational reform is what we should always strive for," Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said. "Today we have an opportunity to take a really important step forward, a step forward that will make a difference in the lives of children, young people and their families." The bill has been subject to months of scrutiny, including a parliamentary inquiry, over the government's decision to retain safety as the "paramount consideration" in child protection decision-making. While the government has argued the clause gives "absolute clarity" to workers when making decisions about whether to remove children, child protection advocates, the state's opposition and some crossbenchers say a child's "best interests" should be the bill's primary focus. Those in opposition include the state's Guardian for Children, who has previously warned the proposed reforms "risk sidelining children and young people rather than meaningfully engaging them in decisions about their own lives". Mr Simms said the bill was not "perfect" and it was likely some stakeholders would feel disappointed by the outcome. "My message to them is not to let the quest for perfection become the enemy of the good," he said. "Sometimes in politics you have to recognise when you have secured some important outcomes and when a bill is worthy of support, and when the bill is a significant improvement on the status quo. "That's a circumstance that we find ourselves in today." According to the government, the bill "elevates" consideration of a child's best interests for child protection decision-making, "empowers" Aboriginal families to lead decision-making about their children, and expands the family group conferencing program. "This bill is really important because it elevates the voices of children who most need support about the decisions relating to their lives," Ms Hildyard said. "It strengthens provisions and efforts around reunification when it's safe. "For the first time ever, it also introduces the very progressive best interest principle to be applied in relation to all decisions about children's lives, about their care, about connection with their family, about how they can participate in community life." Mr Pangallo said "no deals were brokered with the government" to secure his support. "Not every piece of legislation that goes through this parliament is perfect and there may well be some issues that arise," he said. "But what they've built into this bill is a review after a year-and-a-half. "As it stands at the moment, it is a very good bill and one that will try and achieve the outcomes."
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Mapped: Find your nearest baby bank as demand surges
The UK is facing a child poverty crisis, with The Independent revealing the number of parents struggling to feed and clothe their children is rocketing. Baby bank use surged 35 per cent last year, according to data shared with this publication, as more and more families seek support amid the cost of living crisis and record-high child poverty levels. Celebrities, including actor Giovanna Fletcher, MPs and campaigners have demanded to know how this can be happening in the UK, as they call for more support for families. But in the meantime, parents are struggling to afford key items for their children, which is where the help of baby banks comes in. Often run by volunteers from community halls, warehouses and even front rooms, baby banks are a lifeline for families, providing a safe, supportive service for those in need. This is primarily in the form of giving out essential items like clothing, nappies, toys, prams and more – but also in offering a safe space. However, many don't know that baby banks exist, or if they do, don't know where their nearest one is. Therefore, The Independent has mapped out locations of baby banks across the UK: The families this publication spoke with said they had not heard of baby banks before they started using them. But the need is only increasing as stark government figures show that the number of impoverished youngsters in Britain soared by 200,000 from 4.3 million to 4.5 million between 2023 and 2024. More than 3.5 million essential items were handed out by baby banks in 2024, including nappies, clothes and cots, according to the data from the BBA and Save the Children (STC) UK – an increase of 143 per cent on the previous year. The new figures come after Labour delayed its flagship plan to cut child poverty until the autumn, although it insists the strategy will be 'ambitious'. Meanwhile, ministers debate whether or not to scrap the two-child benefit cap as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, and statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) remains equivalent to less than half the 2025 national living wage. Parents said they wanted to draw awareness to baby banks so other families can benefit and to encourage people to donate. Single father Adam Coggins, 34, was living in temporary accomodation with his daughters, aged two and three, and worrying about being able to feed them when a health visitor suggested he go to a baby bank. 'It was difficult to start with, I've always paid my way,' he said. '[But] it's surprising when you go there how many people are there needing the help... surprising how many people have stories like mine. You see how much the community comes together – it's becoming a popular, useful place for lots of struggling people.'
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
A pediatrician helped expose Flint's water crisis. Now she's fighting poverty one baby at a time.
Flint, Michigan — At a parade last year in Flint, Michigan, every family and their babies celebrated a gift from the same woman — pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna. "How can you say no to these babies? Like how can you say no?" Hanna told CBS News. Rx kids, a program she created to give cash to pregnant moms, is an American first. "I wanted something that literally would be able to prescribe away the pathogen of poverty," Hanna said. "I wanted something that I could pull out of my doctor's bag, pull out of my white coat that literally would be able to prescribe away the pathogen of poverty. Poverty makes kids sick. So I wanted to prevent it." She's raised more than $100 million, 80% of which is from private donors. Now, every expectant mother in Flint, regardless of income, can get $1,500 during her pregnancy. Once the baby is born, it's $500 a month for up to a year — no strings attached. "So what we are hearing from our families is that this amount of money is a lifesaver, a game changer for our families," Hanna said. "They can afford to pay their rent. They can buy diapers for their baby. They can buy formula. They don't have to choose between being homeless or having a roof over their heads." When asked how to know if the money is being spent on the right things, Hanna said, "This is based on global evidence. Our multiple surveys, we know that they're spending this money No. 1 on baby supplies, and then on food, rent utilities, transportation, childcare." "We are telling families, 'We see you, we hear you, and we trust you,'" she added. Hanna knows child poverty runs in Flint's bloodstream. In 2015, she brought national attention to the city's corroding water pipes and linked them to children with lead poisoning. Now she's tackling poverty. In four areas of Michigan, any expectant mother can apply. But in Flint, the program reports 60% of enrolled families have an annual household income of less than $10,000. When Angela Sintery was pregnant with her daughter Jolena, she remembers filling out a five-minute questionnaire. "Two weeks later, I had money in my bank account," Sintery said, adding that the money allowed her not to stress out and focus on her baby instead. Michigan State Sen. John Damoose is a conservative Republican from a red district. He's no fan of handouts, but pushed hard to get Rx Kids in his district. "It's extremely efficient. There's no government bureaucracy whatsoever. This is actually a great program that meets people right where they need it," Damoose said. Since early last year, Rx Kids has spread roughly $10 million to more than 2,200 families. "This is a plug-and-play program. It is already built with dollars at the table. We are ready to go live in communities across the nation," Hanna said.
BreakingNews.ie
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
James Middleton: Kate has ‘always been there' for me
James Middleton has credited his sister, Britain's Princess of Wales, along with the rest of his family, for helping him through some of the darkest times of his life. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, the 38-year-old entrepreneur explained how Kate and their sister Pippa have 'always been there' for him. Advertisement 'I'm incredibly fortunate to have my two sisters, not just as siblings, but as friends,' he said. 'They've seen me at my best and at my lowest, and they've always been there when I've needed them.' Pippa and James Middleton arriving at Westminster Abbey, central London, ahead of the coronation ceremony (PA) After struggling with his mental health in 2017, Mr Middleton said his sisters and mother Carole, helped him immensely. 'They've always been emotionally open, expressive, and in tune with the people around them, and I think being surrounded by that kind of emotional intelligence rubbed off on me, even if I didn't fully realise it,' he said. Advertisement 'Looking back, I think it gave me permission, in a way, to feel things more deeply and to name those feelings when they came up. 'But having strong women around me who led with compassion and honesty definitely helped me learn that vulnerability wasn't weakness, it was strength.' The entrepreneur and mental health advocate has previously spoken about his 'rebirth' from depression after undergoing therapy. He has recently written the book Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, about his pet being his 'reason for being' as well as helping to change his mindset and provide him with moments of reprieve. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Middleton (@jmidy) The future queen is making a gradual return to public royal duties after completing her cancer treatment. On May 20th, Kate returned to royal garden parties for the first time in two years, surprising guests by joining her husband at Buckingham Palace. In the aftermath of his sister's cancer diagnosis, Mr Middleton showed his support with a touching Instagram tribute to his older sister. Alongside a photo of the pair as children, he wrote: 'Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.' Advertisement
