Leeds Baby Bank

Who are we, and what is our project about?

At Leeds Baby Bank we support families to take control of their financial wellbeing by ensuring they have access to essential items for their babies and young children. By providing practical support such as mattresses, cots, prams, nappies, and other baby essentials, we help reduce the financial strain on families who may otherwise be forced into debt or hardship to cover these costs. We also signpost families to local services for budgeting, benefits, and financial planning, giving them tools to manage money more effectively. By easing financial pressure, parents gain confidence, children have safe essentials, and families can plan for the future, creating stronger, more independent households and healthier communities across Leeds. 

While donations are a vital part of what we do, demand is growing rapidly and cannot be met by donated goods alone. To bridge this gap, we need funding to purchase new, safe items, particularly where second-hand donations are unsuitable or unavailable. This means families can depend on us to meet their needs reliably, giving them peace of mind, reducing financial stress, and enabling them to focus on building more secure, independent futures. Our new premises also allows us the space, in 2 community rooms and 2 counselling rooms, to offer courses and independent debt relief advice services. 

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are raising money to ensure that every family who turns to us has access to the essentials their baby needs to be safe, warm, fed and cared for. While we receive generous donations from the community, the demand for cots, mattresses, prams, nappies, and other baby essentials is higher than what donations alone can provide.

In 2024 we supported 193 families per month, in 2025 this has risen to 245 families and is increasing. We have a team of 35+ volunteers helping us to sort and send out donations, take calls, work on our socials and much more. 

Research in 2023/2024 by End Child Poverty shows the following:

We have 4.5 million children (31% of all children) living in relative poverty, with high rates recorded across many UK regions.

Leeds is among the areas most affected. In Leeds South, more than half of all children (52%) are growing up in poverty after housing costs. This means that in a classroom of 30 children, around 16 may be living in households struggling to afford the basics. 

Families in Leeds are not just facing poverty in abstract numbers — these figures translate into real challenges: parents going without meals to feed their children, babies without safe sleeping spaces, and families unable to afford essentials such as nappies, prams, and clothing.

In turn, the work Leeds baby Bank does with the funding and donations it receives creates positive change across our community: families feel supported, children have the best possible start in life, and parents are empowered to build stronger, more secure futures.  

How we’ll spend the money raised

All money raised will go towards purchasing essential items such as Cots, mattresses, prams, winter coats, blankets, nappies, formula etc that families can not afford.

How you can help

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every penny donated will go directly towards helping babies and young children in Leeds get the safe, essential items they need. While we receive generous donations of second-hand goods, there are some items we must buy new, and demand is higher than donations alone can cover.

Your support will help us to:

• £15 – supply a week’s worth of nappies, wipes, and toiletries for a family in crisis
  

• £25 – buy a new cot mattress, ensuring a baby in Leeds has a safe place to sleep

• £60 – provide a pram so parents can safely get out and about with their bab

• £100 – purchase a new cot or travel cot for families without a safe sleeping space

• Other essentials – such as bottles, bedding, stairgates, and clothing packs when donations aren’t available
  
  

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support can help build momentum and inspire others to give too.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed.

3. Purchase an item from our Amazon wish list

4. Volunteer with us either as an individual or through your employer.

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch through the ‘Contact’ section using the subject "I want to volunteer my time or expertise" on our project page.