Nicky is a city councillor, representing Sparkhill. A single mother of three, she brings a wealth of parenting experience. Having had her first child at sixteen, she has spent most of her career in the charity sector, supporting women fleeing domestic abuse or at risk of homelessness. Most recently she won an award from the Aston Villa Foundation for her work with Baby Aid Birmingham.

Before setting up Baby Aid Birmingham, David had spent five years working with food banks across the West Midlands. This hands-on experience of working with people in crisis has given him a deep understanding of impact of poverty and the lack of provision for families with young children. David had also worked in schools, as a journalist, and as a political campaign manager.

From its first few weeks operating out of Nicky’s house and reliant solely on individual donations, Baby Aid Birmingham has grown month on month, moved into its own premises and now has a dedicated team of volunteers.

Whilst the creation of Baby Aid Birmingham was prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, the need to support families with young children on a low income or in crisis existed before Covid-19 and will sadly continue after.

Since opening in March 2020, Baby Aid Birmingham has helped an average of 250 children a month, providing them with emergency supplies for their children. These packs usually include nappies, baby food and toiletries. There was already a need for an organisation like us, but with the arrival of Covid-19 essentials became unaffordable for even more families.

If anyone knows someone who needs help, they have an online referral form to use. If families need regular support, they ask for a support worker to fil it out so that there’s another layer of accountability, but also to make sure the family receive the right items. You can view the form, and a guide, here