York campaign aims to provide birth care bags for new mothers

L-R: Helen Sargent, Emily Pickard, Andrea Morrison, Bernadette Render, and Sarah Schiewe (Image: Mumbler)

A new community project in York aims to support mothers in need by delivering essential hygiene kits during childbirth.

The campaign is being led by businesswoman Andrea Morrison, who was inspired to act after learning from The Hygiene Bank York.

Ms Morrison said: "Having had three babies myself, I could not imagine going into labour knowing that afterwards I didn’t have what I needed to clean myself or my baby, knowing that I’d have to face this when I was at my most vulnerable.

"It is something that I didn’t have to think about, and took it for granted that I would be ok."

Ms Morrison was shocked to hear that as many as ten women each month go into labour without items such as maternity pads, shower gel or disposable pants.

She gathered support from fellow entrepreneurs Emily Pickard of Mumbler, Bernadette Render of Obliviar, Sarah Schiewe of Schiewe Ceramics and Helen Sargent of Helen Sargent Interiors.

Together, they are working to raise £2,000 to fund a year’s supply of Birth Care Bags.

These will be distributed by The Hygiene Bank York, which provides hygiene products to those experiencing hygiene poverty in the area.

The group hopes to reach its fundraising target by the end of summer.