FACES BABYBANK SERVES 2,098 FAMILIES AS DEMAND OUTPACES DONATIONS

Faces BabyBank, a charity based in Bedford, reported that families seeking assistance nearly doubled in 2025 compared with 2024. The organisation supported approximately 1,200 families in 2024 but served 2,098 in 2025. Michaela Martindale, chief executive of Faces BabyBank, attributed the increase to ongoing financial pressures, stating that more families were returning for repeated help rather than requiring a single emergency referral. The charity said demand was growing "faster than donations".

In 2025, Faces BabyBank distributed 36,400 items of children's clothing, 54,080 nappies, 536 tubs of formula milk, 298 newborn starter packs and 3,768 books and toys, alongside cots, Moses baskets, prams, highchairs and bedding. According to figures from the Baby Bank Alliance, baby banks across the UK supported more than 400,000 children in 2025. Martindale noted that parents in employment were unable to afford essential items because wages were not keeping pace with household costs. She highlighted housing as a significant issue, with many families living in temporary or overcrowded accommodation where space for a cot or pushchair was unavailable.

The charity relies entirely on donations and financial contributions to maintain stock levels. Martindale stated that families faced "impossible choices between paying the rent, heating their home or buying the essentials their baby needs". She added that the cost-of-living crisis had "simply changed" rather than ended, with families experiencing prolonged financial strain. Faces BabyBank said the Bedford community remained "incredibly generous" but that demand continued to outstrip available support.