More parents in full-time work are turning to a Birmingham baby bank for essentials, increasing pressure on supplies and leaving organisers short of baby formula.
Kavita Kaur Dhillon and her husband Karvinder run the Handsworth Baby and Family Bank from their Dhillons Boutique on Soho Road. The service gives out items such as nappies, baby formula, clothing and toys to families who cannot meet everyday needs.
The couple say the mix of people using the bank has shifted since they opened in 2024. Kavita said the majority they first helped came from lower-income households, but now they are seeing a growing number of people in full-time employment seeking support with daily costs.
Kavita asked donors to focus on the essentials, saying, "We don't need any more clothing, it's the everyday essentials, formula, nappies, wipes, toiletries." Karvinder described how requests have broadened, "Before, we mainly needed nappies. As the daily cost of living has gone up, people need help with more day-to-day things."
The organisers said they were in "desperate need" of baby formula and often had only a handful of tubs left in stock. That low inventory creates a real risk of supply gaps for families who rely on the bank for infant nutrition.
Running the baby bank inside their boutique is a deliberate choice, Kavita said, intended to reduce stigma. "You go out of our shop and people think you have purchased something, but in fact you've just used our baby bank," she said. The couple described the space as warm and welcoming, and said the emotional reward of helping families was significant. "For me it is fulfilling, knowing I've been able to support or help someone else be okay and smile," Kavita added.
They also urged anyone struggling not to hide their needs. "It's nothing to be ashamed of or to be scared of. There's no shame in asking for help," Kavita said. Organisers are therefore appealing for donations of everyday essentials, with baby formula identified as their most urgent shortfall.
As demand continues to grow, the bank’s capacity to meet needs will depend on community donations of the specific items organisers now say are in short supply.
