It has been 8 years since the introduction of the baby box, a publicly funded package filled with essentials for the first 6 months of a newborn’s life. A mattress, clothes, towel, toys and more are all provided to expecting parents free of charge.
APS Group Scotland has held the contract for making the boxes since the scheme started. They are made in Edinburgh and from the capital they are distributed across the country with over 292,000 boxes sent out so far.
A box starts its journey in Leith where it is assembled then placed onto the production line. From here it flows down the line, docking person to person, receiving a shipment of goods which make up the box.
Once fully loaded with its precious cargo, it sails through customs – or in this case the audit station, the contents are checked, double checked and once the manifest is approved the box takes its final shipment – safety instructions, leaflets and the packaging. Finally, the box will be loaded onto a pallet ready for its next part of the journey into the open waters of Scotland.
Paul Daly is the Baby Box Department Manager. The man in charge. Paul oversees the production, data input customer service departments.
He beams: “I get good satisfaction knowing that each box is helping a new family in some way. We have been running [the scheme] for nearly 8 years, and it has been going really well”.
Like any large-scale distribution effort, the distribution is not without its problems: “[Sometimes] we are hit with delivery delays or transport problems – this can hamper us but fortunately these can be resolved quickly.”
The boxes travel from the distribution centre to all corners of the country. On average, Baby Box Scotland sends between 400 and 500 boxes per month to Edinburgh addresses. As an essential factor in the Scottish Government’s goal of eradicating child poverty, at the very least, baby boxes provide all newborns with an equal start to life:
“Everything in the box is very useful. Great starting point for new parents.” Paul says.
According to APS Group Scotland, the individual cost of each item in the box would total approximately £429 – with roughly £215,000 a month helping families in Edinburgh and even more flowing out across the country.
Knowing that every baby, no matter their circumstances, has had the same opportunity provided from this box has been fed back to Paul: “It has been a massive help and removed a lot of stress knowing they have a head start.”
Edinburgh mum of two, Megan, says: “Items in the box were fantastic, especially as a first-time parent. Things you may not think of, such as a water thermometer for the bath, help put your mind at ease.”
“I feel very lucky living in Scotland and that we have the baby box!” Megan adds.
Regardless of political leanings, the concept behind the baby box – giving all babies in Scotland an equal footing – is something which Edinburgh can be proud to be associated with.
