{"id":383,"date":"2025-03-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/?p=383"},"modified":"2025-04-16T01:23:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T01:23:47","slug":"inside-the-baby-bank-people-never-think-they-will-be-in-this-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/16\/inside-the-baby-bank-people-never-think-they-will-be-in-this-position\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the baby bank: \u2018People never think they will be in this position\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
Carly and Ann witness life-changing conversations inside Babyshed in Stevenage (Picture: Kirsten Robertson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carly keeps a watchful eye out the window of Babyshed\u2019s headquarters in Stevenage<\/a>, Hertfordshire.<\/p>\n

With items like nappies, formula milk and baby wipes available, the charity has become a lifeline to mums<\/a> in the area. Reaching out for help for the first time can feel daunting, however.<\/p>\n

\u2018We want people to come in and not feel judged,\u2019 Carly, Babyshed\u2019s coordinator, tells Metro<\/strong>. \u2018There was one lady who sat in the car for half an hour crying her eyes out because she was so embarrassed to come in. People shouldn\u2019t feel scared to ask for help. <\/p>\n

‘Sometimes you see people literally shaking as they come in, they never thought they would be in this position. It can be very unexpected, like when a woman has a baby then her husband leaves. Nursery costs are so high <\/a>which means they might not be able to go back to work, or they might not feel ready to.\u2019<\/p>\n

When Metro visits Babyshed <\/a>on a crisp, cold day, there\u2019s a steady stream of new mums passing through. They gather around a play mat <\/em>as their babies gurgle and giggle. The temperatures are due to drop this weekend, so there\u2019s a selection of winter jackets on display alongside more usual items like baby food and nappies.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
Babyshed gives mums the experience of ‘window-shopping’ for clothing they’d prefer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
One mum explained how the charity has been a ‘lifesaver’ for her and her young son<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I came into the country from Nigeria as a student with my husband,\u2019 one mum, who prefers to stay anonymous, tells Metro<\/strong>. The 31-year-old has a six-month-old boy and lives in the town centre of Stevenage. \u2018When I gave birth I was still studying so my finances weren\u2019t okay<\/a>. We had to pay bills, school fees, payments – it was a lot. As the baby grew, it became hard to afford new clothes.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I went to Bedfordshire Foodbank to get some things and the staff there told me about Babyshed, it was much closer to me. My first time here, I remember I stood outside and felt really scared about how they might treat me. But then I came in and knew I didn\u2019t need to be scared. I was treated with love. They are so supportive. I\u2019ve got things like nappies, wipes and toiletries here. Sometimes I forget to ask for things and they go \u201coh, do you need this as well?\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018This is my fourth time here,\u2019 another mum, 31, explains as her eight-month-old plays nearby. \u2018It has been a lifesaver. Whenever I need anything I think \u201cBabyshed.\u201d Without it, I would find a way to survive, but it would be very difficult.\u2019<\/p>\n

Babyshed was launched following the Covid-19 pandemic by Stevenage Vineyard Church<\/a> to support families in need. The charity has gone on to become vital for nearby refugees housed in a local hotel, with volunteers making a dedicated trip each week to offer support. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
Carly says women who visit for support often return with their own donations in the future<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
Nappies, formula milk and baby wipes are among the most popular items at the charity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carly heads through a set of doors to a vast warehouse where donations are stored. Shelves of nappies stretch down the room, new prams are illuminated by the winter sun and boxes of baby food are neatly labelled. There\u2019s also drawers for more specific items, like breast pads, nappy cream and cotton wool. Carly wants to give mums as much autonomy as possible.<\/p>\n

She continues: \u2018Just because someone is in a certain section of their life, it shouldn\u2019t mean they lose the ability to choose. I think things like, does this mum like Disney? Would she prefer frilly outfits? Will this family be outdoors a lot? The same baby clothes don\u2019t suit everyone. We also don\u2019t mind second hand donations, but we want good quality. I wouldn\u2019t want to give something out which I wouldn\u2019t feel comfortable using for my own kids.\u2019<\/p>\n

SIGN METRO’S FORMULA FOR CHANGE PETITION HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

In one heartbreaking incident last year, a police officer informed Babybank staff he had been forced to arrest a woman who stole formula milk.<\/a> He took a leaflet from the charity to give to her. Babyshed – which is backing Metro\u2019s Formula for Change campaign that aims to improve access to essential items like formula<\/a> – want mums to feel empowered to reach out for help.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everybody is one short step away from poverty,\u2019 Carly adds. \u2018If your life circumstances have led that way, it doesn\u2019t make you any less of a human being or a good mum. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
The number of children living in poverty across areas in Hertfordshire (Picture: Metro.co.uk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Formula\t<\/div>
Babyshed is run in conjunction with Foodshed, a local foodbank in Stevenage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

‘We want to help facilitate people to be the best parents they can be, we\u2019re non-referral so anybody can come here. Come, see us, have a hot drink, have a chat, have a cry.<\/p>\n

\u2018It might look like we\u2019re just giving someone a pack of nappies, but it\u2019s much more than that. It\u2019s a vehicle for change. Some of the mums we support<\/a> actually come back and give us donations once they\u2019re back on their feet. It\u2019s always really special to see that. If you throw a stone, it causes ripples. We want ripples of kindness to spread as far as they can.\u2019<\/p>\n

There are ten volunteers at Babyshed and extra support from the local community vital. Bags of sweets have been delivered from Tesco this morning while staff from GSK, a pharmaceutical company in Stevenage, recently visited the charity to paint the walls. <\/p>\n

Babyshed has also received several vouchers from a local trampoline park, which means parents they support will be able to treat their child to a special day out they might not otherwise have been able to afford.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Ann says speaking with mums about support on offer can lead to lasting friendships<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Ann arrived for her first volunteering shift at her local baby bank, she could never foresee just how much of an impact she would have. The mum-of-three had previously helped with a foodbank run by Stevenage Vineyard Church, where she had been pastor. <\/p>\n

\u2018Some people just want someone to talk to,\u2019 Ann tells Metro<\/strong>. \u2018They might not have their own support system <\/a>or a mum of their own to help. I remember one woman walked in through that door and just burst into tears, it turned out she was pregnant and her husband had just left her. <\/p>\n

\u2018One day she said, \u201cI thought I could do this by myself, but I can\u2019t. I know this is a really big ask, but would you be with me at the birth?\u201d <\/a>Of course I said yes. I cut the baby\u2019s cord and cuddled him, it was absolutely wonderful. <\/p>\n

‘His mum still tells me \u201cwhen he hears your voice he looks for you in the room.\u201d She doesn\u2019t come back here a huge amount, because she\u2019s back on her feet now with a new job and a council house.\u2019<\/p>\n

Support the work of Babyshed by clicking here<\/a><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carly and Ann witness life-changing conversations inside Babyshed in Stevenage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cost-of-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=383"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":394,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383\/revisions\/394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}