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Charity supports one in 16 babies across the county

Martin Heath & Annabel Amos
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Getty Images A file photo of a smiling baby with very short hair, wearing a blue and white outfit and lying on a grey sheetGetty Images
Baby Basics provides Moses baskets for vulnerable families with newborn babies

A charity which helps families with vulnerable babies says it is now supporting one in 16 of the boys and girls born in its county.

Baby Basics, based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, provides starter packs full of essential items including nappies and clothes.

It is holding its first sale of donated goods which cannot be handed out to raise money this weekend.

Its founder said she was "very worried" about a rise in referrals over the last two years.

Annabel Amos/BBC A group of women of varying ages, smiling at the camera. Some are holding clothes. toys and other items. Some are holding bags full of items. The words BABY BASICS appear in blue lettering on a wall behind them.Annabel Amos/BBC
Volunteers pack the Moses baskets at the charity's headquarters in Wollaston

Volunteers at Baby Basics fill Moses baskets with everything from toiletries to blankets, toothpaste and even some treats.

Sabrina Oakey, a co-founder of the charity, says knitted items are particularly important "because a lot of families who receive our packs may not have a Grandma or an Aunty or that family connection that can make those hand-made items".

Annabel Amos/BBC Sabrina Oakey with long light brown hair flowing down her left shoulder. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a black top and white lanyard. There are photos on the wall behind her and parts of the words "Northampton" and "making" are visible.Annabel Amos/BBC
Sabrina Oakey says she is seeing more families who have two working parents

She is "very worried" about the number of families who need the service.

"In the last two years alone, we've seen a 51% increase which is a huge rise in our referrals.

"A lot of this is down to, we think, the rising cost of living, but also reduction of benefits for some families," she said.

The charity has seen more families coming through who have both working parents but are still in need of essentials, she added.

It expects to support around 500 babies this year – about one in 16 of those born in the county.

Annabel Amos/BBC Laura Holmes-Trevino with long blonde hair brushed over her left shoulder. She is wearing a black top and white lanyard and standing in front of a wall covered in photos with the words "Northampton" and "Difference" in black lettering.Annabel Amos/BBC
Laura Holmes-Trevino is organising the charity's first boutique sale

Laura Holmes-Trevino, who looks after the charity's fundraising, said it was very grateful for all the items donated by the general public.

But some of them cannot be used in the packs that get handed out.

"Quite often, they are items for older babies, sometimes they are items for safety reasons we can't guarantee in the home of a newborn," she said.

Annabel Amos/BBC Basket containing some slips saying "congratulations on the birth of your baby". There are stuffed toys including an elephant, toiletries and chocolates.Annabel Amos/BBC
The Moses basket contains toys, clothes, toiletries and treats

For the first time, Baby Basics is organising its very own boutique sale, so donated items can be turned into cash for the charity.

It takes place in The Gatherings in the upper mall of the Grosvenor Centre on Saturday morning.

The Department for Work and Pensions said that "£742m has been made available to county councils and unitary authorities in England to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials through the Household Support Fund".

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