BANK ON IT

I’m a volunteer at a baby bank – people are really struggling, they need our help now

Ella Walker

Published: 22:29, 25 Jun 2023
Updated: 22:29, 25 Jun 2023

A MUM has revealed the positive impact volunteering at a baby bank has had on her and urges others to do the same.

Kate Moran, 33, has been busy raising two children while still volunteering her time to help others struggling during the cost of living crisis.

Kate Moran started volunteering to help others in need after receiving support while her son was in intensive care and hasn't looked back sinceCredit: Kate Moran

Dawn Neale-Seiffert began volunteering during Covid and loves getting to know her local community moreCredit: Dawn Neale-Seiffert

The mum-of-two lives in Leeds with her husband Ross, 38, a business owner, and is a stay-at-home mum to Franklin, seven, and Corinne, four. She volunteers at Leeds Baby Bank.

Her son, Franklin, was in intensive care after being born, and the mum wanted to return the support she received during the difficult time.

She tells Fabulous: “My little boy was in intensive care when he was born. Seeing how hard everybody worked at the hospital and understanding other parents’ difficulties, made me want to become a volunteer.

"My family and I are in a healthy, comfortable position and it feels like giving back is the right thing to do. It’s made me realise how many people are struggling.

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What are baby banks?

- Baby banks provide essential items for babies and young children whose parents are living in poverty – including nappies, wipes, clothing, bedding, Moses baskets, cots, blankets, toys and books.
- There are over 200 baby banks in the UK, and they run out of shops, community centres, warehouse units and even people’s living rooms and garages.
- Last year 4.2 million children in the UK were living in poverty and 800,000 children lived in a household that used a food or baby bank.

"It’s easy to believe it’s all happening far away and doesn’t really involve you, but it’s literally happening on your doorstep. People are really struggling, especially now."

We've launched our Fabulous Baby, Bank On Us campaign in partnership with Save The Children, Little Village and baby banks across the UK that provide parents with essentials, from clothes to cots.

We're asking parents to help support them, whether it's by volunteering, like Kate, or donating children’s items to their local bank.

Kate not only gets to volunteer and help her local community but also gets to meet new people and friends too.

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How YOU can support Fabulous' Baby, Bank On Us campaign

- Give money by donating or by scanning the QR code.

- Give clothing, toys and essentials to a baby bank, wherever you are in the UK.

- Give your time volunteering. To find your nearest baby bank, visit .

Being a stay-at-home mum can be challenging and lonely at times, but volunteering has given Kate a new way to meet people.

"The community is lovely and the volunteers are amazing. When you’re a stay-at-home mum, it can be quite lonely, so it’s nice to go and meet people. I’d say to give volunteering a go. You won’t regret it," she adds.

Volunteering has been scientifically proven to have health benefits such as decreasing loneliness, building resilience, and can even reduce your cholesterol says Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy.

Dawn Neale-Seiffert, 62, lives in London and volunteers at Little Village baby bank also loves that she can meet others from her local area.

She says: "After being made redundant from my job in retail during Covid, I went freelance, which has been good but it also comes with times where you’re not working very much.

"I’d previously volunteered for various charities, and then an opportunity came up at Little Village. I met some of the team, including Renata who runs the hub, and they were wonderful.

I sort clothes and meet families one to two days a week, to give them the items they need. It’s been an incredible change for me.

"You feel like you’re doing something good. Suddenly, you’re meeting people you would never usually come across and they are never what you imagine. I get quite emotional about it.

"It’s incredibly uplifting, because you learn things about yourself. There’s so much love and everybody is made to feel part of the community. We’re all in it together – nobody’s judging each other.

"It’s been a really positive experience, and having had children myself, I know how important it is to give them a good start in life. It seems like an investment in the community.

I’m a volunteer at a baby bank – people are really struggling, they need our help now

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