Princess Kate raises awareness for baby banks amidst rising cost-of-living challenges

Kate, 41, dropped off 50 copies of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark in a trip to highlight the “vital” work and “life-line” provided by a network of baby banks supporting young families.

She spoke to parents and volunteers at Sebby’s Corner Baby Bank in Barnet, north London, and warned there were “so many families in challenging circumstances” coming up to Christmas.

Kate called for the 250 nationwide Baby Banks to be more “visible” in villages, towns and cities.

Sebby’s Corner runs a Christmas shop to help parents facing financial difficulties during the festive period and does the same for those of other faiths in Diwali and Hanukkah.

The Princess hailed the Baby Bank for providing a “safe space” for parents who can visit without being “judged”.

She was today kick-starting an awareness campaign for Baby Banks for the festive season as part of her Royal Foundation for the Centre for Early Childhood.

Kate said: “All those who are looking after young children and babies, it’s such a vital role you play, being able to have support from community and support from a network, it is really vital and essential, not only for children but also for parents.”

“There are so many families in challenging circumstances.”

“Every child should have the basic essentials. The needs are really huge.”

Shelves at the Baby Bank were crammed full with toys which parents can pick up for their children’s Christmas presents.

But it also offers baby essentials, sanitary products and toiletries for parents in need.

Kate, in a brown top and matching long skirt and heels, laughed as she got glitter on her face as she added festive bows to decorative festive grottos.

She said: “It’s amazing how generous people are. There is a real willingness to give back sometime people don’t know how to support so part of raising awareness here helping everyone know what they can do its not only donations but giving time back.”

Representatives from the Baby Bank Alliance, so far a 50-stong union of centres from Shropshire, Derbyshire, Wales and Hartlepool, discussed the challenges but also the rewards of running the centres.

Kate said she was concerned that Baby Banks were a “hidden” service and believed they should be “more visible” around the country.

She said: “There are so many ways people can get involved.”

Giovanna Fletcher, an ambassador for Kate’s Shaping Us initiative and wife of McFly’s Tom Fletcher, said: “We need to let families know the community is behind them. It is not just dropping things off but also contribute by being there.”

Kate told the Baby Bank volunteers: “Every child should have the basic essentials.”

She added: “The Baby Banks need to be in the community. They are a real lifeline for people facing poverty.”

“We need to normalise it and make it more visible, put them where families and children are.”

Discussing examples of how some struggling parents reuse soiled nappies, Kate said: “Some of the stories you hear are really desperate that’s why places like this need to be in every community and normalised and put on same platform so general public do see the needs and for those families that are valued.”

She told them: “It’s totally crucial and I’m well behind your initiative.”

Bianca Sakol, founder of Sebby’s said: “We’ve seen a huge increase in demand compared to his time last year.”

“October was the busiest month we’ve ever had and saw more than 100 families through the doors.”

“Families come from really far away if there is not a Baby Bank in their area.”

“More and more families are in a situation where both parents never thought this would happen but because of the cost of living crisis it is getting impossible to make ends meet.”

“We have done surveys and this is having a huge impact on mental health.”

“Baby Banks are the backbone of society and I think the Princess is doing amazing work highlighting the impact of Baby Banks and we were thrilled to have her as she is an authoritative voice and brings her excellent work to this conversation.”

Sebby’s Corner was formed in January 2021 and provides items to families in need across Barnet, Hertfordshire and London.

Families are referred by a large network of partners including midwives, health visitors and teachers. Since opening, Sebby’s Corner has supported over 5,000 families and has seen year on year increase in referrals.

The visit came as The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood published an “Issues Index”, which found that a third of the general public cite financial pressures as the biggest issue facing parents and carers in 2023.