Baby Basics Northampton is celebrating the success of its first-ever work experience programme after welcoming five exceptional students from Weston Favell Academy for a week of hands-on volunteering and community engagement.

The initiative marks an exciting milestone for the charity, which relocated to its new headquarters in February this year with a vision of creating a community hub that not only supports families in need but also inspires the next generation to make a difference.

The partnership with Weston Favell Academy has strengthened links between the charity and the local community, while giving students the opportunity to gain meaningful experience within the charity sector and make a tangible difference to the lives of local families.

Throughout the week, the five students became valued members of the Baby Basics Northampton team, working alongside volunteers, trustees and staff. Rather than simply observing, they immersed themselves in the day-to-day running of the charity, demonstrating enthusiasm, compassion and a genuine commitment to helping others.

Making a Difference from Day One

During their placement, the students:

• Prepared and packed more than 10 signature Moses Basket Starter Packs, helping to ensure newborn babies across Northamptonshire have a safe place to sleep.
• Assisted with stock management, organising the charity’s warehouse and maintaining essential supplies ready for families in crisis.
• Supported preparations for the launch of an exciting new community project.
• Built meaningful relationships with volunteers and trustees, becoming an integral part of the Baby Basics Northampton family.

Their contribution has already had a direct impact on families who will receive essential items for their babies over the coming weeks.

Alisha Pacey, Charity Fundraiser at Baby Basics Northampton, said:

“Our mission is to ensure that every baby in Northamptonshire has a safe place to sleep, but our vision goes far beyond providing essential items. We want our charity to be at the heart of our community, creating opportunities for people of all ages to get involved and understand the difference they can make.

“Welcoming our very first work experience students has been an absolute joy. They have been a fantastic representation of Weston Favell Academy and have thrown themselves into every task with enthusiasm, kindness and maturity. They have brought so much energy into our new home, built wonderful relationships with our volunteers and trustees, and made a genuine contribution to the families we support.”

Sabrina Oakey, CEO and Co-Founder of Baby Basics Northampton, added:

“This work experience programme is about much more than giving young people an insight into the charity sector. It’s about helping them understand the realities some families face when welcoming a new baby and inspiring them to become lifelong champions for their community.

“Our vision for our new home has always been to create a truly community-led space where people of all ages can come together to make a difference. Seeing these multi-generational connections develop between our students and volunteers has been incredibly powerful, and we’re excited to build on this as we welcome more schools, businesses and community groups through our doors.”

The partnership extends beyond work experience, with the wider Weston Favell Academy community also fundraising to support Baby Basics Northampton’s work. Together, this collaboration demonstrates the powerful impact that can be achieved when schools and charities work together to inspire young people while supporting families in need.

As demand for the charity’s services continues to grow, Baby Basics Northampton hopes this will be the first of many work experience opportunities, encouraging more young people to become active members of their community while developing valuable workplace skills and an understanding of the challenges some local families face.

About Baby Basics Northampton

Baby Basics Northampton is a volunteer-led charity providing Moses basket starter packs and essential equipment, clothing and toiletries for babies during their first three months of life. Working alongside midwives, health visitors, family support workers and other referral agencies, the charity supports families experiencing financial hardship or crisis across Northamptonshire.

The charity believes that every baby deserves a safe place to sleep and the essentials they need for the best possible start in life.

Recent data from Baby Basics Northampton highlights the growing need for its services, with the charity now supporting 1 in every 14 babies born across Northamptonshire. This means that, in an average primary school classroom, around two children may have received a safe place to sleep from Baby Basics Northampton during their first few months of life.

These figures demonstrate both the incredible impact of the charity’s work and the increasing level of need within local communities.

To continue meeting this demand, Baby Basics Northampton is calling on more businesses to partner with the charity. Corporate support through fundraising, financial donations, volunteering and long-term partnerships enables the charity to reach more families, respond to rising referrals and ensure that no baby goes without the essentials they need simply because of financial hardship.

By investing in Baby Basics Northampton, businesses are investing in the future of local children and families, helping to ensure that every baby has the safest possible start in life while strengthening communities across Northamptonshire.