Kids are sleeping in drawers and babies are in pain because their families can’t afford Calpol – we MUST help them
BABIES stuck in filthy nappies, children in pain because there’s no Calpol and youngsters sleeping in drawers.
It’s an extremely bleak picture and one Sophie Livingstone MBE, the CEO of Little Village, faces on a daily basis.
The 46-year-old, who runs a network of baby banks across London and is a mum-of a five-year-old and nine-year-old, is dedicated to helping improve the lives of struggling young families.
That’s why Little Village has teamed up with Fabulous and Save The Children to launch our new campaign, Baby, Bank On Us.
There is an extremely bleak picture of families living in extreme poverty.
Sophie Livingstone MBE
The community-focused initiative is calling on the public to volunteer time and donate items to their nearest baby bank. It also aims to raise vital funds to support the work of baby banks across the UK.
How YOU can support Fabulous' Baby, Bank On Us campaign
– Give money by donating here or by scanning the QR code.
– Give clothing, toys and essentials to a baby bank, wherever you are in the UK.
– Give your time volunteering. To find your nearest baby bank, visit Littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks.
Sophie told Fabulous: “There is an extremely bleak picture of families living in extreme poverty.
“Babies in filthy nappies because their parents can’t afford to replace them, young children in pain because their families can’t afford to buy Calpol, others living in cold, dark, unsafe homes.
“Things are dire, we have heard of a family using sanitary towels for nappies as they had no spare money and a child from the north east of England with a grade three pressure sore due to extreme rationing of nappies.
“It is all so awful, as a parent you want to protect your child, so stories like a family in Lincolnshire who shared that they were requesting a bed, as their child was sleeping in a drawer is utterly heart-breaking.
Things are dire, we have heard of a family using sanitary towels for nappies as they had no spare money
Sophie Livingstone MBE
“This campaign is so important because, basically, we need money, volunteers and donations to keep going.”
Sophie believes that baby banks are a fantastic way to pass on used baby stuff that you know will go to a good home.
She adds: “We have to raise money as a charity. The need is massive and expanding.
“To Sun and Fabulous readers I would say: clear out your cupboards and volunteer or donate what you can financially. Every penny counts.
“The country is gripped by a cost of living crisis, yes, and it is very sad. But seeing how much ordinary people can achieve and help each other is incredible.”