A charity in Sheffield supporting families with young children says it is battling to combat the growing cost of supporting society’s most vulnerable people through the cost of living crisis. 

Baby Basics, which supports families with children up to five-years-old, says that almost ten per cent of the items needed have to be bought brand new by the charity. 

The charity supplies essentials such as nappies and wipes, as well as toys, clothes, and beds to families referred by social and healthcare services. 

The charity supported 4,365 children last year and, at a full cost recovery of £40/child, that means that it cost just under £175,000 last year to help families that needed it most.

Bethany Millward, Centre Co-Ordinator at the Sheffield branch, makes sure the centre and the 80 volunteers are well organised and in position to help everyone that gets a referral. She also ensures referrals are properly processed, and that their social media presence is effective.

She said: “We’ve certainly noticed a drop in donations of bought products because of the cost of living crisis, as have most in the sector.”

90 per cent of the items making up a care package are second-hand donations provided by families who no longer need items for their own children. 

However, the remaining ten per cent are things that must be bought brand new such as nappies, wipes, sanitary products, and other toiletries. 

Ms Millward said: “We’re still seeing strong donations of second hand items and actually we haven’t seen a reduction in this at all even though we know there are ways people could be selling these elsewhere.”

These figures suggest that despite a reduction in brand new items, people are still wanting to support the charity and the families in need regardless of these rising costs. 

As the prices of food, fuel, nursery places, and extra-curricular activities continue to rise, parents on public forums turn to others in the same position to share their experiences. 

One anonymous user on Mumsnet said: “I feel like all I do is work, housework, take care of the kids and try to get enough sleep, I’m always broke and always seem to be behind on something, whether that’s bills, work, chores, laundry or school emails, there’s always something.”

Another said:  “I’m unsure how everyone’s managing the increasing cost of life right now – For example, our mortgage has gone up, our food shop, our petrol etc. The cost of just basic living, we think we’re about £1000 less in disposable income each month which is huge due to the increased living costs.”

Although second-hand items continue to come in through donations, Baby Basics relies on its volunteers to ensure money keeps coming in to support its clients and provide essentials. 

This year, they have set a £10,000 target to reach through selling excess items, working on how to monetise spare items, and organising coffee mornings to boost donations.