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Kate Middleton praises baby bank for offering ‘lifeline’ during visit | UK News


Kate Middleton went to look round Sebby’s Corner, a baby bank in Barnet, north London (Picture: PA)

The Princess of Wales visited a charity providing a ‘lifeline’ of support for parents in the lead-up to the festive season.

Kate Middleton went to look round Sebby’s Corner, a baby bank in Barnet, north London, which distributes nappies, baby clothes and other things to families in need.

She helped volunteers decorate a Christmas grotto filled with toys as part of her visit.

She told members of the newly formed Baby Bank Alliance: ‘The work going on here is so essential… you are such a lifeline in so many ways, but you’re also hidden.

‘We need to be able to normalise this and make this more visible.’

The organisations have joined together to provide much-needed items to parents across London and Hertfordshire, throughout the year as well as around Christmas.

The baby bank said it has seen a year-on-year increase in referrals due to the cost of living crisis.

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Kate, Princess of Wales, right with Bianca Sakol Founder of Sebby's Corner look at equipment and toys during her visit to Sebby's Corner in north London, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to provide support to families with young children in the run up to Christmas. Sebby's Corner was formed in January 2021 and provides items to families in need across Barnet, Hertfordshire and London. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

It is run by the Baby Bank Alliance, which provides much-needed items to parents across London and Hertfordshire (Picture: PA)

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Sebby's Corner in Barnet, north London, to kickstart an initiative from her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to provide support to families with young children in the run up to Christmas. Picture date: Friday November 24, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Frank Augstein/PA Wire

The Princess of Wales said the charity provides a ‘lifeline’ of support for parents in the lead-up to the festive season (Picture: PA)

The Princess of Wales speaks to founder Bianca Sakol and operations manger Emma Parker during a visit to Sebby's Corner in Barnet, north London, to kickstart an initiative from her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to provide support to families with young children in the run up to Christmas. Picture date: Friday November 24, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Frank Augstein/PA Wire

Kate spoke to and helped volunteers as part of her visit (Picture: PA)

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Sebby's Corner in Barnet, north London, to kickstart an initiative from her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to provide support to families with young children in the run up to Christmas. Picture date: Friday November 24, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Frank Augstein/PA Wire

The baby bank said it has seen a year-on-year increase in referrals due to the cost of living crisis (Picture: PA)

Families are referred to the bank by midwives, health visitors, teachers and other professionals.

More than 5,000 families have been helped since the alliance was formed in January 2021.

Kate’s visit comes after singer and actress Michelle Heaton visited the Little Village Baby Bank, in Brent, to highlight Metro’s Formula For Change campaign.

Michelle said: ‘I don’t know what I expected today but this place is so much more. You’re not just giving families what they need but what they want. It gives them pride, dignity and love.’

In partnership with charity Feed, Metro is calling on the government to urgently review their infant formula legislation and give retailers the green light to accept loyalty points, all food bank vouchers and store gift cards as payment for infant formula.

Unfortunately not all food banks supply formula, and last month it was reported some charities were being forced to ration it due to a surge of families struggling to afford it.

Sign our petition here

Baby formula has risen in price by 24% in the last two years, and current government policy prohibits the promotion of formula.

In some extreme cases, families have been watering down the formula to make it last longer.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.



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