Antrim Baby Bank had over 600 referrals last year
370,000 items were donated to baby banks in Northern Ireland in 2025.
More than £1 million, including almost £20,000 in Northern Ireland, has been distributed to baby banks across the UK by the Baby Bank Alliance in the last three years, helping hundreds of local organisations provide essential items and vital support to families facing crisis.
The milestone comes at a time of growing demand for baby bank services. In 2025, baby banks supported more than 5,000 children in Northern Ireland. Yet while the need for support continues to rise, three-quarters of baby banks surveyed by The Baby Bank Alliance said a lack of sustainable funding is their biggest challenge.
The Baby Bank Alliance represents and advocates for the UK's network of more than 400 baby banks, including 10 in Northern Ireland, which provide families with essentials such as clothing, nappies, cots and prams when they need them most.
The funding, made possible due to the ongoing support of partners, has given baby banks the flexibility to respond to local needs, whether that’s buying essential items such as nappies, clothing and safe-sleeping equipment to covering the core costs of running their services. For organisations operating with limited resources, this funding can make a critical difference to their ability to continue supporting families.
While gifted items remain vital too. 370,000 items were donated to baby banks in Northern Ireland in 2025.
Sharon Caldwell is Home-Start Manager at Antrim Baby Bank which had over 600 referrals last year: “When we started up in 2021 it was not simply a good idea but a response to a very real need faced by isolated parents during the pandemic. We’re now well established in the local shopping centre and offer open sessions each week when parents can receive essential baby resources.
“Parenting is wonderful, but when finances are stretched, stress can affect every part of family life and have negative impact on a young child. Through the kindness of our community, we have a unique opportunity to ease that burden, relieve poverty, and give new purpose to items that might otherwise go to waste.”
For many baby banks, flexibility of the funding provides vital breathing space at a time when securing sustainable income is becoming increasingly difficult. More than three quarters of baby banks have an annual income of less than £50,000, while 78% report that their success in securing funding has remained flat or declined, compared with 69% in 2024.* For some, this cash means the difference between helping or turning families away.
Demand for baby bank services continues to grow, with more children being supported each year. However, average income growth of 9% has not been sufficient to keep pace with increasing need.
The challenges facing baby banks are being felt across the UK, regardless of location or community.
On reaching the million-pound milestone, Chair of the Baby Bank Alliance Sophie Livingstone, said:
“Reaching this £1 million milestone is a moment to celebrate. It's what we envisaged when we started, that by coming together we could attract new money to support the incredible work of baby banks across the UK. It's also a big reminder of why baby banks are needed more than ever - families are facing impossible choices, and baby banks are working tirelessly to ensure children have the essentials they need.
"The Annual Grant gives baby banks the opportunity to respond to the realities they see every day, whether that's covering core costs, buying essential items or meeting growing demand. We're so proud of what this fund has achieved so far and enormously grateful to the partners, funders and donors whose support continues to make it possible.”
The work of the Alliance continues to be powered by the generosity and longstanding commitment of partners including Morgan Stanley, IKEA, Barratt Redrow Foundation, Pears Foundation and major donors, with funding partnerships secured by the BBA’s incubating partners, Purposeful Ventures and Save the Children. Without continued support, this fantastic achievement would not have been possible.
Dan Paskins, Executive Director of UK Impact at Save the Children UK, said:
"Baby banks play a vital role in supporting families with young children through some of the most challenging moments in their lives. As one of the founding members of the Baby Bank Alliance, we're proud to help ensure that funding reaches the organisations that know their communities best.
"Thanks to this funding, baby banks are able to provide essential items and practical support to families when it's needed most. It demonstrates the power of investing in trusted local organisations, giving them the resources and flexibility to respond to local challenges and helping create lasting change for children and their families.”