Leading North East charity the Children's Foundation has launched England's first "baby boxes" inspired by those in Scandinavia and Scotland - along with a £1m appeal so they can give one to every new parent in the North East.
The Newcastle-based charity - set up in 1990 in response to a report highlighting that youngsters in our region had the worst health outcomes in the country - has worked with parents and maternity groups to design special baby boxes containing essential items to help parents and promote healthy child development. The boxes are the first of their kind in England.
Countries like Finland have historically provided parents with boxes like this, while a programme also now exists in Scotland. The Children's Foundation plan is the first time this has happened in England though - with tots in some of the North East's most deprived areas having already received a box as part of a pilot scheme.
