Emily, a 21-month-old child, is enjoying storytime with her mother at a baby bank located in south London.
Little Village operates the Tooting facility, which supplies families with clothing and various necessities. In addition to Tooting, it also has locations in Camden and Wembley.
Emily is the youngest of three children belonging to Theresa Kamuayi, who is currently unemployed due to mental health struggles. Theresa expresses gratitude for the charity, stating that “it was there for me, to help.”
She is one of many impacted by the two-child benefit restriction, which limits most families from receiving means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April 2017.
Government officials have suggested that the restriction, implemented by the former Conservative administration, may be reconsidered in the upcoming November Budget.
A recent survey conducted by the charity revealed that 81% of the parents it assists felt they couldn’t afford warm winter clothing such as coats, boots, or sweaters for their children, due to rising financial strains.
In an interview with BBC Politics London, Ms. Kamuayi shared: “I require a lot of assistance as a single mother raising my kids without their father in the picture.
“The situation has been particularly challenging; after COVID, I faced numerous difficulties that exacerbated my mental health issues, making it tough to maintain steady employment.”
Sophie Livingstone, the CEO of Little Village, stated that there is a “clear necessity” to eliminate the cap, adding, “but we need to go much further.”
She voiced her concerns, saying: “I worry that the government might believe they’ve fulfilled their obligations.
“To truly support families, we need to evaluate benefit rates, address housing problems—which obviously requires time—but we must begin, and we also need to consider childcare costs and ensure that employment provides a livable wage.
“No one should have to rely on food banks or baby banks, even if they are gainfully employed.”
A government representative remarked: “Every child, irrespective of their background, deserves an excellent start in life.
“That’s why our Child Poverty Taskforce will unveil an ambitious plan aimed at addressing the deep-rooted causes of child poverty.
“We are dedicating £500 million to promote children’s development through the implementation of Best Start Family Hubs, expanding free school meals, and ensuring that the most disadvantaged do not go hungry during school holidays via a new £1 billion crisis support initiative.”
