Working parents 'struggling to afford nappies or food'

A baby bank has seen a 55% increase in demand in one year due to the cost of living crisis, leaders have said.

The Forest of Dean Baby Bank helped 177 families in January 2026 compared to 111 during the same month the previous year as working parents struggle amid rising food prices and household bills.

Bex Whittle, from Redmarley, has used the baby bank on and off for 16 months. She said it has been very useful to cover the costs of buying clothes, wipes and nappies.

Trustee Asiza Tate said parents cannot afford "essentials like formula and nappies, as their salaries are just not stretching to everything".

Whittle added: "My baby was born seven weeks early and we moved house at the same time, so it was really useful.

"We use it a lot for clothes as my partner also has twins, who we have around a lot, so we use it a bit like a swap shop. I have also collected baby wipes and nappies in the past."

Whittle is also giving back to the baby bank, saying: "I have helped as a volunteer too. It's a pride thing, you don't like to ask for help, but I've come on board to help educate others".

Tate, who is also treasurer and a volunteer at the baby bank, said things have "got a lot busier".

"We constantly have more families needing help and a lot of these families are working.

"Either it's both the parents working, or one is full-time and one is part-time. They can't afford the essentials like formula and nappies, their salaries are just not stretching to everything," she said.

"I love what we do, it's something really close to my heart. But it can be very difficult when you have a lot of demand and not enough supplies. We're blessed by an incredible community that supports us so much."

Cathy Morgan volunteers at the baby bank in Ruspidge once a week and says it "wouldn't survive" without support.

"There's no paid staff, we're all volunteers, so we're absolutely essential.

"I help sort the donations out, pack up the orders and deliver them. Different clothes, bundles, nappies and baby milk and if there's time I try to make inroads into the huge pile of donations," she said.

Morgan said people are still donating, despite the hard times.

"Parents, if their child has grown, can give back the things they have grown out of and then order the next size up," she said.

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