Demand at Hartlepool baby bank is 'through the roof' as founder welcomes end of two-child benefit limit
The founder of Hartlepool Baby Bank has called on the Government to do more to help tackle child poverty as demand on its services has gone “through the roof”.
The community organisation, which provides free baby’s and children clothes, toys and equipment, is currently supporting around 150 families a week.
Hartlepool Baby Bank chair and founder Emilie de Bruijn welcomed the scrapping of the two-child limit in Universal Credit by the Government which comes into effect this month.
It is set to lift 3,210 Hartlepool children out of poverty.
But official data published last month shows 31.9% of Hartlepool children were in poverty in the three years to 2024/25 – some 6,810 children.
Emilie, who has campaigned for at least two years to end the two-child limit, said: “We are pleased to see the end of the two-child limit.
“I think it will make some difference but there will still be a lot of children, sadly, in poverty.
“It’s a really good first step, now we can have further conversations for improvement across the North East.”
Emilie believes the Government should look more closely at support for families with very young children and work with the likes of the Baby Bank Alliance which has a membership of more than 255 banks.
"We as baby banks are doing a lot of the work of the statutory agencies now as they can't do it for staffing or funding reasons and it would be nice to be included more in conversations,” she said.
"One day hopefully we won’t need a baby bank. Sadly, we are a long way from that.”
Hartlepool Baby Bank, based in the Crown Buildings, in Avenue Road, three days a week, is a member of the End Child Poverty Coalition.
Emilie said they are “busier than ever” adding: “We’re seeing a lot more demand for cots, clothes, formula. It’s through the roof at the moment and we are just about keeping on top of it all.”
Their waiting list for equipment including cots, cot beds and safety gates, is also longer than ever.
"We used to aim to help everybody in 14 days,” said Emilie. “Now we can’t meet that target.”
Donations to Hartlepool Baby Bank can be dropped off every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm.