BABY BASICS NORTHAMPTON

Baby Basics Northampton is a registered UK charity, established to support new mothers and families in vulnerable circumstances across Northamptonshire by providing essential baby care items and equipment. The charity primarily distributes Moses basket starter packs filled with vital items for newborns, aiming to ensure every baby has a safe and secure place to sleep. It operates through referrals from healthcare professionals and local agencies that identify families in need.

History and Purpose

Founded as part of a wider community effort, Baby Basics Northampton focuses on assisting mothers who face financial hardship or challenging life situations, including teenage mothers, asylum seekers, and women escaping domestic abuse or trafficking. The organization relocated to larger premises in Wollaston before the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate rising demand for its services.

Activities

The charity collects and distributes starter packs containing essential baby items to families throughout Northamptonshire. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baby Basics Northampton adapted its operations to continue supporting families despite restrictions on volunteer attendance and donation drop-offs. This period saw a notable increase in referrals, reflecting heightened anxiety and need among new mothers.

Volunteer recruitment and training are key aspects of the charity’s work, ensuring that new and existing volunteers can safely and effectively assist in its expanded operations. Community engagement initiatives have been developed to broaden the charity’s reach and encourage wider involvement from the local population.

Impact and Outreach

Baby Basics Northampton has responded to increased demand, with a 22% rise in referrals year-over-year and doubling of referrals observed in April 2021 compared to the previous year. The organization has successfully onboarded 12 new volunteers due to funding support, which also enabled the purchase of volunteer training equipment.

The charity maintains a robust presence on social media, having amassed over 6,300 followers on Facebook, enhancing community awareness and connection.

Governance and Financials

Registered charity number 1168449, Baby Basics Northampton is governed by a board of five trustees and supported by approximately twelve volunteers. The charity does not employ staff with benefits exceeding £60,000 and does not remunerate its trustees.

For the financial year ending 31 August 2023, Baby Basics Northampton reported an income of £71,192 and expenditures of £72,671. Its income included £5,000 received from a government grant. The charity operates without trading subsidiaries or trustee payments.

This summary encapsulates Baby Basics Northampton’s mission to provide essential baby care items to families in need in Northamptonshire, highlighting its community-driven approach, adaptation during the pandemic, and ongoing growth in volunteer and public engagement.

[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5073655 [2] https://baby-basics.org.uk/centre/northampton [3] https://babybasicsnorthampton.org.uk [4] https://www.instagram.com/babybasicsnorthampton/ [5] https://www.ncf.uk.com/blog/?pid=6&nid=3&storyid=32