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Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig announces 10,000 free newborn baby bundles and a new baby bank in every borough to support local families in need
The initiative aims to combat child poverty across all 10 boroughs by providing essential Moses baskets, bedding, and healthcare items to struggling families while connecting parents with vital community support hubs.
Following the announcement of free bus travel for children aged 11-16, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has now set out her plan to give every child in the region the best start in life. The newly elected Mayor has today (August 5) committed to expanding the availability of ‘baby bundles’ for expectant and new parents when their baby is first born.
On a visit to the Family Hub in Leigh, Wigan, Bev Craig announced a huge increase in the number of baby bundles that will be distributed to families across the city region – rising from 1,500 to 10,000 by autumn next year. As well as increasing the baby bundle programme, the mayor has committed to a baby bank serving every borough of Greater Manchester.
Research shows that a baby’s earliest experiences are critical to a good start in life, but almost 30% of children under five in Greater Manchester are growing up in poverty.
Credit: Supplied/GMCA
What is the Greater Manchester baby bundle programme?
The baby bundle programme helps families facing financial or domestic hardship, including those experiencing homelessness or living in temporary accommodation where they may not have access to baby essentials, such as a cot.
The free bundles are distributed on a referral basis, either through key health services or Greater Manchester’s existing network of baby banks. As well as providing essential items, each bundle creates an opportunity to connect families with wider support available in their community.
Many of the bundles are put together and distributed via the city region’s network of 10 baby banks. Funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) supports the baby banks to operate as one network, with volunteers and charities providing crucial support.
According to GMCA, the programme is on track to deliver 1,750 bundles to families in need by this October.
Credit: Supplied/GMCA
What is included in a baby bundle?
Each bundle includes newborn essentials, including a Moses basket, bedding, a room and oral thermometer, plus a baby’s first toothbrush, baby toys and books. As well as providing essential items, each bundle comes with key information for parents – creating an opportunity to link families to further support that they can access in their community.
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life, from their first days as a newborn right through to their first day at work”
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, from their first days as a newborn right through to their first day at work — and I’m committed to building a Greater Manchester where every child has that opportunity.
“Baby bundles are a practical way to help families during one of the most important periods in a child’s life, giving parents access to essential items alongside connections to wider support when they need it most.
Credit: Supplied/GMCA
“That’s why today I am making a commitment to rollout 10,000 of these bundles to parents who need them the most by autumn next year and making sure that families have access to a baby bank in every borough of Greater Manchester.
“We want to expand our network of baby banks in our city region that, with the help of volunteers and the charity sector, provide vital support to families every week. This new baby bundle offer means that we can reach even more families who need and deserve our support. It isn’t just about providing essentials, it’s about helping families access the wider support available in their community so that every child can get the best possible start in life.
“This is part of our Live Well mission to make sure people can get the support they need, close to home, through trusted relationships in every neighbourhood. This support starts before birth.”
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