Coventry’s Family Hubs are to help distribute 100 Baby Care Packs every month to help families in need.
The Hubs have teamed up with local charity Baby Godiva and national charity Care Packs for the initiative, which will see everyday essentials made available to families across the city who are living in temporary accommodation or facing challenges and inequalities.
Baby Godiva will issue 100 packs a month through the Start for Life offer. The packs provide the essential items that families need when they have a new baby, including: baby wipes, nappy sacks, cotton wool/pads, shampoo, lotion, body wash, sponges, and a biodegradable bag.
The packs will also carry a QR Code that families can scan to access the wider Family Hubs’ offer at www.Coventryfamilies.co.uk, including support with housing, debt, welfare benefits and health and wellbeing support and advice.
Cllr Patricia Seaman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Coventry City Council, said: “This is a brilliant scheme that will really make a difference to so many people across the city as they face those first few weeks and months of raising a child.
“Those times can be so hard for those without a support network, and it will show them that there is help available and people who care.“The Family Hubs have quickly become a key part of our city and of the Council’s work to put children and families at the heart of all we do, and this new partnership with two wonderful charities will help us to continue that work to give every child in Coventry the best possible start in life.”
The Family Hubs help to join up the planning and delivery of family services; build connections between families, practitioners, services and providers; and put relationships at the heart of family support. They offer support to families with children of all ages up to 19 years, with services including learning support, infant feeding and parent/child relationships.
Baby Godiva is a charity based in Coventry founded in 2019 supporting families with young children in their time of need. It acts as a Baby Bank, collecting and sorting items from the local community and then redistributing them to families that are experiencing financial or personal difficulties. Read more about the charity and make a referral at https://babygodiva.org/
Care Packs uses an extensive network of corporate organisations and leaders to help deliver packages that improve the lives of individuals and families across the UK, supporting families facing financial hardship by delivering essential resources for their babies and young children. Read more about its work on the website www.care-packs.org.uk
To find out more about the work of the Family Hubs and how they could help your family, visit www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs