FIRST-TIME parents in the North East will be delivered a ‘moment of calm’ thanks to iconic North East brand Ringtons and The Children’s Foundation.
Ringtons, the North East based luxury supplier of tea and coffee, has donated 750 boxes of tea and biscuits to be included in the charity’s Baby Boxes currently being delivered to first-time parents across the region.
The Baby Box is an essential project for the region that aims to give every first-time parent and their baby in the region the best start possible. The project has been created by listening to children, parents, midwives, family nurses, GPs, and experts on the 1001 critical days movent, to understand how important these early years are for shaping the rest of our lives. Over the last year, 110 Baby Boxes have been gifted to first-time parents in Newcastle and Gateshead. 750 more are set to be delivered by August 2024 with the project scaling to include families in North Tyneside and Northumberland for the first time.
Inspired by the original Finnish baby box, the box is the first of its kind to take a development approach to a child’s wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on their physical needs. Each box is packed with stimulating toys and books that encourage playing, laughing, reading, singing, and counting, as well as essential items to get families started. Thanks to the donation from Ringtons, the Baby Boxes will now include a box of luxury tea and a pack of delicious biscuits to encourage new parents to take an important for themselves during those busy, and often stressful, few days after bringing a new baby home.
Sean Soulsby, CEO of The Children’s Foundation said “Bringing a newborn home from the hospital is an exciting, but often overwhelming time, and we want to remind parents, families, and carers that they are not alone during those critical early days. Feedback from the new parents is that our Baby Boxes make them feel less alone in those early weeks, and sometimes a cup of tea and a biscuit is just what you need to give you the strength to keep going.
“The North East has the second-highest rate of low income and deprivation in the UK after Inner London and these boxes are needed more than ever. We want to say a big thank you to everyone at Ringtons on behalf of North East parents. Ringtons is an iconic brand and has been a huge part of the North East community for over 100 years, it is fantastic to see them supporting the next generation to have the best start possible.”
Brigitte Keatings, director at Ringtons said, “It’s truly wonderful to be involved in such a fantastic initiative by The Children’s Foundation. Welcoming a child into the world for the first time is an incredibly precious experience, yet it often comes with worries and anxieties. Providing new mothers with a baby box offers a sense of security during what can be a chaotic time. It’s an honour to contribute to the box, with the hope of giving new parents a moment to relax and enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea and a biscuit.”
The Children’s Foundation has a target of raising £1 million to make sure every child in our region gets the support that they need to thrive. Businesses in the region are invited to ‘pay it forward’ by supporting the campaign as part of their community giving campaigns. Businesses can also purchase a box for a colleague heading off on maternity or paternity, and a second box will be donated to a vulnerable family right here in the region.
Individuals who would like to support the campaign and improve the health and well-being of children and young people in the North East can donate £3 by texting ‘MAM to 70450.
To learn more, visit: www.thechildrensfoundation.co.uk.