Demand for support at baby bank doubles

Debbie Hughes and Simon Lellow from Telford Crisis Support say there has been an increase in demand for support

Volunteers at a baby bank have said demand for support has doubled, amid the sharpest increase in UK absolute poverty in 30 years.

Telford Crisis Support has seen "more and more families" relying on it for help in Telford and The Wrekin over the last 12 months.

Simon Lellow, from the charity, said home energy and council tax debts were among some of the burdens people have faced.

"Really, for a lot of people we support now, it's not a cost of living, it's a cost of sustaining themselves, just with real basics," said Mr Lellow.

"Living would indicate having some free money or free cash to actually do things that are enjoyable other than just scraping by."

Mr Lellow said the crisis has "just dragged in more people”.

“You’ve got people from working families, you’ve got people who previously managed but now, because of the various rises that have compounded on top of each other, are no longer able to cope,” he said.

Mr Lellow said many people are just getting by rather than enjoying life

Debbie Hughes, who runs the baby bank, said parents often needed help when children outgrow their clothes.

The baby bank stocks toothbrushes, soap, nappies and a whole host of other practical items.

“We can’t see a way out of it at the moment and so we’re just doing our best,” she said.

“We’ve got brilliant support from the people of Telford and Wrekin because we’re all run on donations up here.”

She said people had been very generous, and that the charity is a lifeline for many families.

“We’ve only got to put a shout out, and by the afternoon there’s people with items that we need.”

The charity also provides a bank at the local neonatal unit and works with the council to provide household goods to domestic abuse victims.

Volunteers at a baby bank have said demand for support has doubled, amid the sharpest increase in UK absolute poverty in 30 years.

Telford Crisis Support has seen "more and more families" relying on it for help in Telford and The Wrekin over the last 12 months.

Simon Lellow, from the charity, said home energy and council tax debts were among some of the burdens people have faced.

"Really, for a lot of people we support now, it's not a cost of living, it's a cost of sustaining themselves, just with real basics," said Mr Lellow.