Purpose

​To support vulnerable families and children living in poverty in accessing food items

How can BHC support:

Supply regularly Essential Food Item

to Local Food Banks  

Why is it Important?​​

• 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

• 9 children in an average classroom of 30 (30%) are living in poverty

• 7 out of 10 children living in poverty have at least one parent in paid work

• 47% of children from Black and minority ethnic groups are in poverty, compared to 24 per cent of white children

• 44% of children living in lone-parent families are in poverty

• 900,000 children in poverty in England alone miss out on free school meals​

​

Reference: https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures

Parental Nurturing and attachment 

Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns

BHC is a  Partner in Business with NSPCC

• Child cruelty and neglect offences in England have increased by 106% over the past five years.

• Recorded offences of adults neglecting, mistreating, or assaulting children have doubled during this period.

• 29,405 offences were recorded between April 2022 and March 2023, compared to 14,263 between April 2017 and March 2018.

• The rise in offences coincides with significant pressures on the child protection system.

• The increase follows several high-profile court cases, including the murder conviction of 18-month-old Alfie Phillips' mother and her partner.

• There are calls for the government to invest in a well-resourced child protection system to respond effectively to reports of cruelty and neglect.

• ​

• Sources: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2023/2023-12-07-106-increase-in-child-cruelty-and-neglect-offences-in-england-in-the-past-5-years/

Purpose 

Support victims of domestic abuse and help reduce the exposure of children to domestic abuse​

How can BHC support

Supplying Local Domestic Abuse Outreach Centres with Essential Items

Donating to Local Domestic Abuse Outreach Centres funds to run the Freedom Programme 

Why it is important? 

• Over 105,000 children live in homes where there is high-risk domestic abuse.- 78% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator, in addition to witnessing the abuse of others.

• 2.1 million people aged 16 and over in England and Wales experience some form of domestic abuse.

• 1.4 million female victims (5.7% of women) and 751,000 male victims (3.2% of men).

• More than 75,000 people in the UK are at high and imminent risk of being murdered or seriously injured due to domestic abuse each year.

• Women are much more likely than men to be victims of high-risk or severe domestic abuse: 93% of those going to Marac and 95% accessing an Idva service are women.

• 1.5 million domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes were recorded by police in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023.

• Eight women a month are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales.

• The average time victims at high risk of serious harm or murder live with domestic abuse before getting help is 2.5 years.

• 73% of victims sought help two times on average from professionals in the year before they got effective help to stop the abuse.​​

​

​Sources: 

https://safelives.org.uk/about-domestic-abuse/what-is-domestic-abuse/facts-and-figures/

https://safelives.org.uk/research-policy-library/marac-quarterly-datasets-2023/​

Purpose

Promote Infant healthy development ​

How can BHC Support 

​Signposting Parents on How to Stimulate and Promote Healthy Baby Development

Supply Infant Development Toys to Local Child & Family Centers for Donation to Families

Why is it important?​

Supporting parents in stimulating their infant’s development is crucial for several reasons:

• Early Development: Infancy is a critical period for brain development. During this time, infants are rapidly acquiring skills and forming neural connections. Proper stimulation can help ensure they reach developmental milestones and develop cognitive, emotional, and motor skills effectively.

• Bonding and Attachment: Engaging in activities that stimulate an infant’s development can strengthen the bond between parents and their child. Responsive interactions, such as talking, reading, and playing, promote secure attachment, which is foundational for emotional and social well-being.

• Parent Confidence: Guidance on stimulating development can boost parents’ confidence. When parents understand what activities and interactions benefit their child, they feel more competent and assured in their parenting, which positively affects their overall parenting experience.

• Identifying Needs: Support can help parents identify their child’s unique needs and developmental pace. This allows for early intervention.

• Promoting Well-Being: Early stimulation is linked to better outcomes in later life, including improved academic performance and social skills. By supporting parents, we’re investing in the child’s long-term well-being and potential.

• Reducing Stress: Parenting can be overwhelming, especially for new parents. Providing information and resources on stimulating development can alleviate stress and help parents feel more prepared and supported in their role.

• Supporting parents in this way creates a nurturing environment where children can thrive and develop to their fullest potential.​​

Sources: 

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-health-development

​​​Purpose:

Public Health Promotion and Education 

Help reduce the percentage of rickets cases in the UK​

How can BHC support:

Supply Vitamin D Drops to Children and Family Centres and Local Maternities 

Why is it Important?​

• Rickets, a disease causing bone deformities and other health issues in children, has seen a significant resurgence in certain parts of the UK. NHS England figures show a sharp increase in hospital admissions for a vitamin D deficiency - from 31,576 admissions in 2013/14 to 188,114 last year - which can lead to Rickets if left untreated. Historically associated with the Victorian era, rickets nearly disappeared in the early 20th century due to food fortification with vitamin D. However, regions like East Kent have reported a 380% increase in cases over the past five years, with more than 580 cases recorded in 2023 compared to 122 in 2019.​

​

• The condition primarily results from a lack of vitamin D, which can be obtained through sunlight and certain foods like oily fish and eggs. Symptoms of rickets include bone pain, stunted growth, weak and soft bones, dental issues, and in severe cases, seizures and fractures. Children with darker skin, premature birth, or on specific medications are at higher risk.

• Contributing factors to the resurgence include poverty, malnutrition, and rising living costs, leading to poor diets lacking essential nutrients. Improved diagnostic awareness and recording by medical professionals also partly explain the increase in reported cases.

• Preventing rickets involves ensuring adequate vitamin D and calcium intake through diet, supplements, and safe sun exposure. For children, NHS guidelines recommend vitamin D supplements, especially for those at higher risk. Efforts to combat food insecurity, such as the Healthy Start scheme, provide support for vulnerable families to access nutritious food and essential vitamins.​

​

• The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that babies from birth to 1 year of age should have a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if they are:​

• - Breastfed

  - Formula-fed and are having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is already fortified with vitamin D

• Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year.​

​​​

References:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/#should-i-take-a-vitamin-d-supplement

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rickets-and-osteomalacia/

​

Purpose

To support vulnerable families and children living in poverty in accessing essential items​

How can BHC Support 

Supply regularly Baby Essentials Items

to Local Child and Family Centres 

Why is it important?​

• 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

• 9 children in an average classroom of 30 (30%) are living in poverty

• 7 out of 10 children living in poverty have at least one parent in paid work

• 47% of children from Black and minority ethnic groups are in poverty, compared to 24 per cent of white children

• 44% of children living in lone-parent families are in poverty

• 900,000 children in poverty in England alone miss out on free school meals​

​​

Reference:

https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures

Purpose 

Support parents suffering from mental health challenges and reduce children's exposure to parental mental health difficulties

​

How can BHC support

Signposting Parents to relevant support 

Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns 

BHC supports fundraising and donations to leading UK charities that support mental health​​

Why is it important?

• Summary of the impact of poor parental mental health:

​

Parental Mental Health Estimates

- 68% of women with mental health issues are parents.

- 57% of men with mental health issues are parents.

Perinatal Mental Health in Women (per 1,000 births)

- Postpartum psychosis: 2 women

- Severe mental illness (SMI): 2 women

- Severe depression: 30 women

- Mild to moderate depressive illness and anxiety: 100-150 women
- PTSD: 30 women

- Adjustment disorders and distress: 150-300 women​

​

​Mental Health in Fathers

- 38% of first-time fathers are concerned about their mental health.

- 5-10% of partners report mental health difficulties during the perinatal period.

​
 Impact on Child Outcomes
- Maternal and paternal depression are linked to an increased risk of later behavioral and emotional difficulties in children.
- Children of mothers with repeated mental health problems tend to have poorer relationships with peers at age 3 compared to children of mentally well mothers or those with brief mental health issues.

• - Children of fathers with persistent depression have a higher risk of emotional and behavioural problems at age 3.5, but no significant impact on behavioural outcomes by age 7.

​

Impact of Frequency and Timing
- Brief exposure to maternal mental health issues can lead to adverse emotional and cognitive outcomes.
- Prolonged exposure results in more significant adverse behavioural outcomes.

- High anxiety levels in late pregnancy or post-birth are associated with behavioural or emotional problems in children by age 7.​

Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions in Adults (16-64 years) in England (2014-2015):

• 1 in 6 adults had a common mental disorder (CMD).

• Schizophrenia: 1 in 100 adults.

• Affective psychosis: 1 in 100 adults.

• Bipolar disorder: 1 in 50 adults.

• Gender Differences:

• CMDs are more common in women than men.

• CMD prevalence in women has increased since 2000; stable in men.

• Most mental disorders begin in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood.​​

​

• Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-living-with-parents-in-emotional-distress-march-2022-update/methodology-and-supporting-information-children-living-with-parents-in-emotional-distress-march-2022-update