'Overwhelmed' charity issues urgent appeal

A Leeds charity that supports struggling families with baby supplies has issued an urgent appeal to open its new base, as part of a major expansion amid "overwhelming" demand.

- by Harriet Sutton

Leeds Baby Bank is moving its operations from St John's Centre, in the city centre, to a much bigger venue in Armley.

It comes after charity bosses were forced to make the "heart-breaking" decision to close its waiting list, which currently stands at more than 200 families in need, because of what volunteers say is overwhelming demand for its help.

They say the organisation now needs to raise £60,000 to equip and furnish its new west Leeds site to make it safe to open.

Leeds Baby Bank founder Chantal Nogbu said: "We exist to ensure no child in Leeds goes without because of poverty, but lately we have been overwhelmed by the number of people needing our support.