Little Stars Community Impact- January to March 2026
The first few months of 2026 have been busy, with growing demand for our services across Shropshire.
Between January and March, we supported 132 children, from newborns up to 15-year-olds, providing essential items ranging from nappies and wipes to pushchairs and cot beds.
These children were referred to us by frontline professionals including midwives, health visitors, Early Help teams, Family Nurse Partnership, and Shropshire Mental Health Community teams. Each referral reflects the challenging circumstances many families are currently facing.
By providing these essentials, we have helped improve children’s health and wellbeing, while also giving parents peace of mind — knowing their child’s safety, comfort, and development needs are being met.
Supporting Families Under Pressure
Many of the families we support are experiencing significant financial and emotional strain. One health visitor shared:
“The family were under a huge amount of stress and pressure due to the cost-of-living crisis and a partner now out of work.
The support has reduced the mother’s anxiety about being able to provide for the children and not feeling good enough.
For the children to have age-appropriate toys has ensured they are able to meet developmental milestones.
The correct age range of clothes has ensured they are warm and dressed suitably for the time of year.
This has reduced the stress the family are currently under.”
Giving Newborns the Best Start
We experienced a high demand for support for newborn babies, helping 31 babies through their first few months of life.
We provided essential items such as nappies, toiletries, clothing, bouncers, Moses baskets, and pushchairs. Expectant mothers also received toiletries, helping them feel cared for and supported after giving birth.
Safe Sleep: A Critical Need
Safe sleeping continues to be one of the most urgent areas of need. Over the quarter, we provided 147 essential nighttime items, including Moses baskets, mattresses, cots, blankets, bedding, and pyjamas.
We responded quickly to urgent referrals following home visits, where unsafe or inadequate sleeping arrangements had been identified.
In one case, a baby was found sleeping in a laundry basket with an adult pillow — posing serious risks of overheating and suffocation. In another, three teenagers were identified as being at risk of neglect, without access to clean bedding or basic toiletries.
We provided a moses basket, with a new mattress, sheets and cellular blanket to support a safe sleeping environment for the baby. The teenagers were provided with bedding, sheets, toiletries, and sanitary products to help ensure their basic needs were met.
Supporting Early Development
As children reach key milestones, having the right equipment is essential. We provided weaning items and highchairs for children reaching six months, giving them a safe and supportive place to eat and explore new foods.
One health visitor explained:
“The highchair is vital for the child to sit in a secure space to be fed and feed himself. Instead of being fed on his feet or walking around the home eating, which poses a choking hazard.
This also supports the cleanliness of the home, preventing food being left on the floor where it could be found and eaten without parents knowing — again posing a choking risk.”
Keeping Children Safe at Home
We also helped protect young children — including those with additional needs — from preventable harm in the home by providing 23 safety gates.
These are essential for families where mobility is increasing, but the home environment is not yet safe.
One referral highlighted the challenges families face:
“The family are on a low income and experiencing multiple challenges, including poor maternal mental health and difficult social circumstances.
Their little boy is now one year old and mobile. They have one broken stairgate, and two further doorways that require stairgates to keep him safe, but they lack the finances to purchase the three needed. They have previously bought stairgates that are incompatible.”
Looking Ahead
Demand for our services continues to grow, and with your support, we can continue to respond quickly and provide essential items that make a real difference.
If you would like to support our work, you can find out more about how to donate, fundraise, or get involved below.
