Families turn to baby banks as costs climb

MORE THAN 3.5M ITEMS DISTRIBUTED LAST YEAR IN THE UK

- BY JAMES TURNER Local Democracy Reporter

BABY banks across Greater Lincolnshire are seeing a rise in families seeking support as the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze household budgets.

Volunteers and organisers from baby banks in Market Rasen, Horncastle and Grimsby have raised concerns, with some expecting demand to increase further as the six-week school holiday nears.

New figures from the Baby Bank Alliance’s 2023 and 2024 annual members' survey show that 220,000 families across the UK were supported by baby banks in 2024, up from 163,000 in 2023. More than 3.5 million essential items were distributed in 2024 — including nappies, clothes and cots — marking a 143% increase on the previous year.

The Market Rasen Baby Bank, now entering its second year of operation, is among those experiencing a surge in demand. Eve Bennett, who founded the independent pop-up service, revealed that in just 26 weeks, the number of users rose from 19 to 76 families across Market Rasen and surrounding areas including Caistor, Brookenby, Kelsey and Binbrook. She described the increase as “quite disturbing.”