BABY BOX MILESTONE DELIVERY Newborn essentials for 50,000 mums
More than 50,000 new mums have taken delivery of a baby box since the Scott ish Government int roduced the scheme a year ago.
This week marks the first anniversary of the £7million initiative, championed by the Sunday Mail, which sees new parents receive a cardboard box packed with newborn essentials.
The scheme was launched during our campaign to help Scotland’s lost children – babies who are born into poverty and never escape.
The box, which doubles as a cradle, contains 40 items, including a mattress, a blanket, a changing mat, baby grows and reusable nappies. It has been viewed a massive success and has proved invaluable to hard up families.
The initiative is not means tested so any mum-to-be can register for a box, which they will receive during the seventh month of their pregnancy from their local health board. So far 50,705 have taken delivery of a box and a further 6867 have registered.
We revealed last year how the initiative would see baby boxes delivered to the homes of mums-to-be.
A three-month pilot of the idea, modelled on one that started in Finland in the 30s, began in Orkney and Clackmannanshire at the beginning of 2017.
They were first provided in Orkney and Clackmannanshire before being rolled out across the country by the summer of last year.
Cot sheets, a mattress and a blanket are also included, making the box suitable for a newborn to sleep in.
Chi ldren’s Minister Maree Todd said: “It is fantastic to see so many parents receiv ing, and benefiting from, the baby box.
“We want to give every baby in Scotland the best start in life, and the Baby Box is a huge part of that – it demonstrates that, as a society, we value each and every child in Scotland.
“We’ve had posit ive feedback from parents and carers across the country, and I’m delighted to have reached this milestone.
“It ’ s an honour for everyone involved to have been part of something that is having a real impact on the lives of babies and their carers across the country.”
When the scheme was a n nou nc e d , N ic o l a Sturgeon praised our campaign for the boxes as “a simple idea with a proven r e c ord in t a c k l i ng deprivation, improving health and supporting parents”.
She added: “Scotland’s baby box is a strong signal of our determination that every child, regardless of their circumstances, should get the best start in life.”
Kevin Bishop, 32, was reported missing in Paisley on August 4 after his family had not heard from him.
A search was launched and the last confirmed sighting of Kevin was in Well Street, Paisley, on July 27.
Pol ic e sa id the 32-year- old has never been missing before.
He is white, around 6ft 2in with a slim build and brown hair. He also has “Kevin” tattooed on the back of his neck.
Chief Inspector Alison Kennedy said: “If Kevin sees this appeal I would urge him to contact his family or the police directly.”
“We need to make sure he is safe and well.”