Brighter Beginnings for Bromley’s Babies

A recently awarded £15,000 grant from the West Kent Freemasons is providing our work with babies and young children aged 0 to 5 over the next three years.

The first five years shape a lifetime
According to the NHS, 90% of a child’s cognitive growth occurs between the ages of 0 and 5 – a critical window that shapes the person they become. Yet the End Child Poverty Coalition – of which we are a proud member – reports that 4 million children in the UK are currently living in poverty, representing 27% of all children. For those in their earliest years, the consequences can be profound and lifelong.

Demand for baby bank services has never been higher. According to the Baby Bank Alliance Impact Report of 2025, baby banks across the UK supported 400,000 children last year – an 11% increase on the previous year – yet more than half still receive referrals they cannot fulfil due to lack of stock.

What the grant will fund
The three-year grant will help us keep our newborn packs fully stocked and cover those items hardest to source through donations alone – baby monitors, cot mattresses and other essentials – ensuring every new arrival in Bromley gets the start they deserve.

Our newborn packs are one of the cornerstones of BBB’s work. Provided to expectant mums in need across the borough, each pack contains everything a new family needs in those first precious weeks – nappies, wipes, toiletries for mum and baby, a changing mat, a handmade blanket, pre-loved clothing and more. For many of the families we support, these packs arrive at a moment when financial pressure and the challenges of new parenthood feel overwhelming. Knowing that someone cares, and that practical help is on its way, can make all the difference.

“I feel so blessed and ready to look after my baby son. He has just arrived and we are off to a wonderful start.” ~ A BBB Client

Already making a difference
“The impact of this grant is already being felt. We are enormously grateful to our supporters, whose generosity sustains everything we do — but having dedicated funds to fill the gaps means we can be more responsive, more effective, and better placed to say yes to every family who needs us. Knowing we have three years of backing behind us is a genuinely lovely feeling.”
Anna Austin, Fundraising and Communications Lead (Bromley Brighter Beginnings)

About The Freemasons’ Charity
The Freemasons’ Charity has provided over £60 million in grants to charities supporting local communities since 2016, with early years a key funding priority. During 2025/26 alone they invested over £1.8 million in charities supporting children aged 0-5 experiencing, or at risk of, poverty and neglect. We are proud to be among the charities they have chosen to support and grateful for this incredible investment in the future of Bromley’s babies and young children.

Find out more about The Freemasons’ Charity.

Support our work
If you’d like to help us reach more families across Bromley visit our Support Us page or donate via JustGiving.