Baby banks are crucial for struggling parents… please help them give their child the best start in life

AS a former teacher and headteacher, I once argued education must always come first.

But now, two years into my role as Children’s Commissioner for England, I know family is king.

Olivia West

Supplied

We must do everything in our power to support young families — especially those with the youngest children, and the most vulnerable.

That’s why I wholeheartedly back The Sun’s Fabulous Baby, Bank On Us campaign, in partnership with Save the Children and Little Village.

No parent should feel frantic because they can’t afford the basic necessities their babies and young children need to thrive.

Every parent across the country should have access to the help they need because happy, healthy children go on to lead happy, healthy lives.

Baby banks form a huge part of the support network which so many vulnerable families rely on — and now it is time for the nation to pull together to help families in need.

I’ve seen first-hand how baby banks work. I have heard the sigh of relief from parents when they walk through the doors and are welcomed by selfless volunteers ready to shoulder their burdens.

These are people who really understand their struggles and truly want to help make their lives better.

This is also what children want — a happy, stable home environment which is free from worry.

I know this because when I was appointed in 2021, I asked them.

More than half a million children aged between four and 17 years responded to The Big Ask survey, the largest ever survey of children.

Kids told us how hard their parents worked, but also how the financial struggles and anxiety their mums and dads faced affected them.

Stories of parents struggling to clothe their children are among some of the heartrending things we hear.

There are real worries within communities — especially from parents who aren’t working or who are disadvantaged — about how they will afford absolute basics.

Last year, Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade, asked me to carry out an independent family review where I talked to families across the country, particularly those with young children, about the struggles they faced.

Parents told me how they want to work hard and be independent, but the cost of childcare, coupled with the cost of living, weighed heavily.

Just last week when I visited the Harris Academy in St John’s Wood, North London, the children echoed the same concerns.

They told me how their parents were working incredibly hard but, because of the soaring cost of living, were really feeling the pressure.

Everywhere I go, these words are said time and again and that’s why this campaign is so brilliant.

These daily struggles aren’t anyone’s fault and anything we can do to support families is absolutely crucial.

My dream is that every struggling parent can go into any one of the country’s baby banks and come away with essential items and support.

I want all parents to feel there’s somewhere to go, but to achieve this goal we must work together.

The great British public can contribute to this campaign, whether it’s volunteering their time, donating clothes and equipment, or making a monetary donation — and I know they’ll step up.

I’ve never seen them let children down and I have got real hopes of how this campaign will ultimately give all children in Britain the best start in life.

Everybody should throw their support behind it if they can.

This campaign is crucial to help future generations thrive, and it is also vital for the future prosperity of our country.