A proposal to help up to 100 new parents a year with a “baby box” is due to be put before councillors in the coming week.
Labour councillor Bruno De Oliveira hopes that it could help tackle increasing infant mortality rates which he said were three times higher in the poorest areas, with black newborns most at risk.
Councillor De Oliveira, who chairs the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said that the baby boxes would contain essentials including clothes, bedding and personal care products.
He plans to propose a motion on the subject at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council on Thursday (19 December).
Councillor De Oliveira wants the council to work with community groups to create up to 100 boxes a year for a pilot programme.
He said: “By launching a council-led pilot programme to distribute up to 100 baby boxes annually in our most deprived postcodes, we can have a starting point to make a tangible difference.
“We will work with health professionals and community organisations to deliver these resources effectively.
“And we will collect data—not just to measure success but to advocate for broader, national implementation.
“This is not just a gesture of goodwill, it’s a declaration of our values. It’s a stand against health inequality. It’s an investment in the future of our communities.
“Imagine a city where every child, regardless of their postcode, starts life with dignity, safety and hope. Now, let us enable it.”
The full council meeting is due to start at 4.30pm on Thursday (19 December) at Hove Town Hall. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
According to the council’s website: “A total of 2,099 live births (32 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years) were recorded in Brighton and Hove in 2022.
“This is lower than England (52 per 1,000) and the south east (52 per 1,000) and is the lowest of all upper-tier local authorities in England.
“The number of births is decreasing. The number of births in Brighton and Hove has fallen by 29 per cent since 2013, from 2,967.”
Very noble idea. Its done in Scandinavian countries and Scotland. Cancel VG3 and fund more these.
Baby boxes are a good idea if the baby benefits from it. But why collect data, more control which Socialist politicians like and more “State” to create? There should be enough information held by the NHS, Registrar’s Department and whoever else gets involved already.
Exactly. We shouldn’t follow socialists countries with low infant mortality like Norway, Denmark and Finland etc.
You collect data so you can evaluate the project. Which is good practice.
Did it meet its objectives? Who was helped? And so on.
If it helped then you continue and expand. If it didn’t then you end it.
Such a great initiative! A progressive step, which will go a long way to help families in need
Here is an idea. If you can’t afford children, don’t have them
Then nobody bar the richest in society is going to have kids. The cost of living crises is already stopping people having children even though many young people desperately want them.
Sorry, can’t afford this, but we’ve just sent £50 million for vulnerable people in Syria. You could not make it up 🤦♂️
Where is the need to replicate something already being done by local charity Pelican Parcels!
Problem with charities like these is that they are in reality a private enterprise. This is about our local newborns. The same ppl who say let’s look after our own first are the same ones against such initiatives. Also, with our decline in new born who will pay your pension in a few years, if we don’t help families now.
Margaret, I don’t think you actually made a point there. Mind giving that another go? I’m curious to hear what makes you think PP would not be able to manage this, especially since they are already doing this quintessentially?
This is pretty much a basic version of what Pelican Parcels already does. The council would be better of supporting that well established and connected charity.