When Feed met Glasgow North Baby Foodbank

We have been working with Glasgow North Baby Foodbank in Springburn to help them try and reinstate the Health Visitor referral system that was in place until it was stopped by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board in December 2019 because the Foodbank offers infant formula provision as part of their wide range of support for local families.

It is absolutely crucial that all health and social care professionals who work closely with families have access to referral pathways to food banks and other such services.

Health Visitors are ideally placed to identify need and signpost families to the relevant services in order to provide support for them to feed their babies safely.

Please support the wonderful volunteers at the Glasgow Baby Foodbank and most of all, the families in Springburn and surrounding areas by calling for the referral system to be reinstated.

Gemma’s Story: Gemma is a founding member of Glasgow North Baby Foodbank and she speaks passionately about her experience and views.

Support from MSP Bob Doris: A request to the Scottish Government to provide clarity on guidelines for infant formula provision for families in need.

The Magnificent Seven: Team Feed and the amazing volunteers from Glasgow North Baby hub, plus a baby bump!

The Magnificent Seven: Team Feed and the amazing volunteers from Glasgow North Baby hub, plus a baby bump!

Tracy’s Story: Tracy is a founding member of the Glasgow North Baby Hub and she tells us why it is so important to her to ensure formula is available for all in need.

In the news: Reporting Scotland cover our story

Campaign Progress

+ the Baby Hub is born

After being contacted by a local Health Visitor desperately seeking infant formula for a local family in need in October 2019, the Baby Hub was born. Within a matter of days the amazing volunteers had helped a number of families with infant formula, nappies and other baby essentials.

+ referral system set up

Unfortunately, the initial case that the Baby Hub volunteers responded to was not a one-off in the local area, so they worked together with local Health Visitors to establish a referral system to ensure an efficient and timely response to those in need of support.

+ families supporting families

The Baby Hub volunteers worked hard over the next wee while to establish an amazing network of community support for local families. This includes Springburn Community Hub, the Salvation Army, Aberlour and a whole host of additional organisations dedicated to supporting families in crisis and makes the Baby Hub a key link to additional services.

+ the ban hammer comes down

In November 2019, a member of the local NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) Infant Feeding Team visited the Baby Hub and told the volunteers they should not be providing formula for formula fed babies and that NHS GGC would no longer be referring families to the Hub for support in accessing infant formula. The UNICEF and Baby Feeding Law Group guidelines were cited as evidence for the ban.

+ Baby Hub meeting

After making contact through social media, the Baby Hub invited us to meet with them in December 2019 to discuss how we could help them reinstate the referral system. We were joined with some of the other fantastic organisations in the Baby Hub support network including Aberlour and the Salvation Army, as well as members of MSP Bob Doris's team. Nobody from NHS GGC was able to attend.

+ we request a meeting with NHS GGC

Since NHS GGC were unable to attend the meeting at the Baby Hub, we wrote to them in early December 2019 to request a meeting.

+ an open letter to NHS GGC

After getting no response to our meeting request, we wrote an open letter to NHS GGC and encouraged anyone who supports the provision of first infant formula for formula fed babies in need to co-sign in support.

+ Baby Hub makes it to FMQ's

MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Bob Doris, raised the issue in First Ministers questions. Bob asked the Scottish Government to clarify the policy position on infant formula provision by baby and food banks to ensure smooth and timely access to support for formula feeding families.

+ look who's on the news

After another local Trussell Trust food bank was also told to stop providing infant formula by NHS GGC, the story made the Scottish news.

+ we meet NHS GGC

We finally met with NHS GGC in February 2020. It was a productive discussion where all parties recognised that we shared the aim of supporting formula feeding families and that Health Visitors are in a perfect position to provide support. NHS GGC agreed to visit the Baby Hub to see the excellent work they do first hand.

+ Feed follows up

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS GGC visit to the Baby Hub still hasn't happened. We have followed up on a few occasions and received a response in early September so we hope to get things moving again soon. Watch this space.....

How you can help

 

Sign our open letter

Join us in asking NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to reinstate the Health Visitor referral service to Glasgow North Baby Hub, and to commit to supporting their Health Visitors to refer families in need to all foodbanks - and similar services - on the basis of need, including those that provide infant formula.

Don't forget to share the letter with your friends!

Donate baby items

Support your local food or baby bank by donating essential baby items including nappies, baby wipes, breast pads, nipple cream, baby toiletries, baby food and first infant formula.

If donating infant formula make sure to choose stage 1 infant formula; this type usually has a big number 1 on the box. Any brand of stage 1 formula is acceptable.

Endorse our guidelines

We have worked with key stakeholders, including food and baby bank service users, staff and volunteers, health care providers and organisations that support women and babies to develop clear, safe guidelines for food and baby banks on the provision of infant formula for formula fed babies.

Sign here to support our campaign to implement them.

Use your voice

Speak up in support of the provision of first infant formula by food and baby banks that help families in need.

Share our campaign details, social media posts and videos highlighting that #FormulaIsFood in the quest to end #InfantFeediningInequality and to ensure that everyone can access food in times of need, including formula fed babies.

Feed guidelines on formula provision at food and baby banks

 

We have worked with key stakeholders, including food and baby bank service users, staff and volunteers, health care providers and organisations that support women and babies to develop clear, safe guidelines for food and baby banks on the provision of infant formula for formula fed babies.