Baby Bank Partnership Supports Families in Crisis

Emdad Rahman

Darul Ihsaan Baby Bank Services has launched a new partnership with Sisters Forum in Newham to support families struggling with poverty, rising living costs and the growing price of essential baby items.

Many parents are facing difficult choices between paying household bills, buying food and providing nappies, clothing, baby formula and other necessities for their children.

Some parents are cutting back on meals or going without so their babies and young children can be cared for.

The partnership is focussing on supporting vulnerable local families, including single parents and households experiencing financial hardship, insecure housing, unemployment or limited access to support.

Sisters Forum works with women and families in Newham, providing community support, empowerment and opportunities while helping people overcome isolation and hardship.

Sabia Kamali, CEO of Sisters Forum, said:
“Many families are struggling quietly. Working together will help us provide practical support, dignity and hope to those who need it most.”

Child poverty remains a major concern across London, with high housing costs, food prices, energy bills and childcare expenses placing increasing pressure on household budgets. The impact can affect parents’ wellbeing and children’s health, development and opportunities.

Darul Ihsaan Baby Bank aims to ensure that babies and young children are not deprived of essential items because of financial hardship.

The service provides practical support while helping families feel respected, valued and less isolated.

Anas Khan, Project Lead at Darul Ihsaan Baby Bank, said:
“Families are facing a real crisis. Our objective is to provide essential support with compassion and dignity, helping parents give their children the best possible start.”

The partnership highlights the importance of community organisations working together to respond to growing need and support families when help is limited or difficult to access.

Through donations, volunteering and local partnerships, Darul Ihsaan Baby Bank and Sisters Forum hope to reach more families and ensure that no baby or young child is left without the essentials they need.

The initiative will also provide vital support to homeless families and children living in temporary accommodation, hostels or insecure housing.

Families experiencing homelessness often face additional challenges, including limited access to cooking facilities, storage, washing facilities and essential baby supplies.

By providing practical items such as nappies, wipes, clothing, toiletries and baby essentials, Darul Ihsaan Baby Bank and Sisters Forum can help reduce immediate pressures, protect children’s wellbeing and offer parents dignity, reassurance and hope during an extremely difficult period.

– 4 million children in the UK were living in poverty in 2024/25, representing 27% of all children. The figures were published in March 2026 and remain the latest official annual child poverty data.
– When housing costs are included, 31% of children in the UK were living in relative poverty in 2024/2, almost one in three children.
– London has the highest child poverty rate in England, with 38% of children living in poverty.
– Newham has a child-poverty rate of approximately 45% after housing costs, meaning nearly one in every two children is growing up in poverty.
– Baby bank demand continues to rise. Around 400,000 children across the UK received support from baby banks in the latest reported year, an 11% increase on the previous year.

In Newham, 32% of children are estimated to be living in food insecurity, highlighting why practical support with nappies, clothing, baby equipment and other essentials is so important.