Struggling new parents receive basket of essential items from Baby Basics Portsmouth to relieve strain

MOSES baskets overflowing with essential items are being created for new parents who are struggling financially.

By Belinda Dickins

Published 12th Aug 2020, 07:00 GMT

Updated 12th Aug 2020, 09:33 GMT

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

For four years, the hardworking team at Baby Basics Portsmouth have been supporting families who cannot afford nappies or clothes for their baby - but lockdown saw them expand even further.

Referrals from healthcare professionals increased dramatically over the lockdown period, but leader Diane Urquhart and her volunteers have worked hard to meet demand, even branching out to give items to older siblings.

Diane, who runs the service through Family Church, said: ‘It’s about giving them breathing space and taking some burden off.

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2476) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2476)

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2476) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2476)

‘Because of my history of being a neonatal nurse for years I have always had a heart for families, I have seen families at their rawest.

‘It’s really lovely to help families in such an amazing way, the thing that drives me forward with this is the stories. It’s that real community spirit and that’s what I love.’

From debt-ridden single mum to CEO thanks to Citizens Advice Portsmouth

Alongside baskets filled with nappies, wipes, toys, clothes and more, Baby Basics Portsmouth can help with food parcels for struggling families, who come from a variety of backgrounds.

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: (l-r) Dawn Ferrett, volunteer, Diane Urquhart, manager and Penny Arnold, volunteer.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2469) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: (l-r) Dawn Ferrett, volunteer, Diane Urquhart, manager and Penny Arnold, volunteer. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2469)

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: (l-r) Dawn Ferrett, volunteer, Diane Urquhart, manager and Penny Arnold, volunteer.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2469) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: (l-r) Dawn Ferrett, volunteer, Diane Urquhart, manager and Penny Arnold, volunteer. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2469)

Diane added: ‘The public is great, we get donations all the time. Families do want to help other families.

‘We have had some really good success stories, we had a couple who had their first baby just before lockdown and they were both made redundant.

‘We gave them a moses basket and food parcels, they got back on their feet, moved out of the area and dad got a job.’

SEE ALSO: Gosport great grandmother knits dozens of rainbow bears to raise funds for British Heart Foundation

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Dawn Ferrett, volunteer.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2459) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Dawn Ferrett, volunteer. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2459)

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Dawn Ferrett, volunteer.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2459) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Dawn Ferrett, volunteer. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-2459)

Mum-of-two Rosie Faulkner, from Portchester, has been volunteering with the service since September last year.

She said: ‘I really enjoy it, I’m quite fortunate I can afford things for my boys but I know there are thousands out there who can’t. It’s rewarding to know we have helped someone out who can’t afford it.’

Baby Basics UK is a network of baby banks across the country, which have recently gained the support of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

A new service, Portsmouth Baby Bank run by The Parenting Network, is due to open in the city in September.

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-5981) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-5981)

Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods.

Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth.

Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-5981) — Baby Basics Portsmouth, based at the Empower Centre in Portsmouth, runs a volunteer-led Portsmouth baby bank which works with health care professionals who refer mums who cannot afford items for their new baby and provide them with a hamper of goods. Pictured is: Diane Urquhart, manager, of the Baby Basics Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (110820-5981)

For more information, or if agencies would like to partner with Baby Basics, contact [email protected]

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.

Portsmouth Portchester

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.