From today ‘baby bundles'- a gift of essential supplies - will
begin to be delivered to expectant families in Flying Start areas
of Wales.
Mum-to-be Mollie Young from Newport will be the first to receive
a bundle which will be hand-delivered this
morning by , the Minister for Children and
Social Care.
The baby bundles, funded by the Welsh Government, contain
essential items to support new parents and their babies. This
includes: 0-6 months clothing, blankets, bibs, muslin cloths, a
thermometer, a bilingual book and a playmat. The boxes also
include useful information and advice about parenting and support
programmes.
Ms Young said: “I was surprised when my midwife told me I could
get a parcel of baby clothes and other items before the baby
arrives. It's a fantastic idea and a real practical help.”
, Minister for Children and
Social Care said:
“Baby bundles are a tangible and meaningful support for families
at an important – but often expensive – time in their lives.
“The contents have been chosen based on what parents told us in
the initial pilot about which items would make the biggest
difference to them. So, I'm sure Mollie, and the thousands of
other parents who will receive baby bundles, will be delighted
with them.
“I'm immensely proud that the work that has gone into producing,
packing and fulfilling the bundles also supports jobs and
businesses here in Wales.”
Eligible families register for a bundle through their midwife and
the bundles are delivered between 32 and 34 weeks of
pregnancy. Midwives can also register a limited number of
families, who live outside Flying Start areas, but are
particularly in need of support.
In addition to supporting families in Flying Start communities,
the programme is helping create and sustain jobs and
apprenticeships by using Welsh-based suppliers and social
enterprises to produce and assemble the boxes and their contents.
Bibs, hats, hooded towels and reuseable breast pads for the
bundles are produced by Elite Clothing, a social enterprise based
in Ebbw Vale, while the packages are assembled by the Merthyr
Tydfil Institute for the Blind. Customer support is handled by
Case-UK, also based in Merthyr, who have been able to create 5
new jobs (including 2 apprenticeship opportunities) thanks to the
scheme.
Petra Kennedy, Deputy CEO, Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind
(MTIB), said:
“MTIB are thrilled to be involved in the exciting Welsh Baby
Bundle project. As a longstanding Welsh charity, this project
will not only help provide sustainability for our organisation
but also sustained employment for our disabled workforce as well
as offering opportunities for more disabled and disadvantaged
people to gain skills and employment.”
Beverley Walsh, Head of Business Services at APS Group, Managing
Agent of Baby Bundles Contract, said:
“We're delighted to be working with local charities and supplier
partners to deliver the Welsh Baby Bundle programme to eligible
parents, creating sustainable job opportunities and supporting
the local economy in Wales.”
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