Pram appeal as Coventry baby bank sees rising demand

A city baby bank has issued an urgent appeal for prams and baby travel systems after seeing increasing demand from people in need.

Baby Godiva was set up to support families with young children struggling to afford essentials.

The organisation collects and sorts items donated by the community before distributing them.

But chief executive Kate Wilson said it was down to its last handful of pushchairs and bosses needed more support.

“We’ve given away 32 [pushchairs] this year already so we’re averaging about ten a month to families in need,” she told BBC CWR.

“We’re working with a lot of teenage pregnancies, care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse who just have nothing and need a lot of help when they’re pregnant.”

The charity, which has been recognised by the BBC Make a Difference Awards, was launched in 2019.

Its founder Belle Edgar-McCabe had been at a family hub when she heard about a young mother who could not afford nappies.

Since then, workers and volunteers have helped hundreds of families and linked up with midwives, health visitors and social workers to support even more.

Ms Wilson said there were a number of different reasons why demand had risen.

“I think some of it is the cost of living crisis,” she explained. “We’re all in the pinch right now and babies are very expensive.

“Some of it is [because] we are trying to really promote the charity at the moment and tell people we are out there and can help.

“It does lead to a need of more items.”