Notes
Funding:
£4,000.00
from SureStart
Aims:
To encourage financial savings in a Ward of high material deprivation
To encourage better child care
To reduce social exclusion
Scheme History:
The pilot project was run from September 2003 to April 2004 with a
total of five sets of nappies issued.
Scheme:
When the parent(s) discover that they are expecting a child, they
open an account at the Credit Union and pay in a sum of money each week
(£2 – 6 dependent upon circumstances). Upon the birth of the
child they are given nappies adequate for the nappy term. If there are
insufficient monies in the account, the Credit Union arranges a loan for
the balance, and the parent(s) continue paying in the same amount until
the amount is reached.
Promotion:
There is no current marketing/promotion.
Scheme Monitoring:
A report based upon the experience of the children involved is to
be produced in the near future.
Achievements:
Five families are involved in the scheme. The final report is due
to be produced.
Benefits of the scheme for partners involved:
North West Leicestershire District Council – contribution to
their Anti-Poverty strategy, contribution to their Social Inclusion Policy,
reduction of landfill, support to community cohesion.
Money Tree Credit Union– Increase in account holders, raised
awareness of environmental policy, strengthen inter-agency
working.
Future Plans:
Creation of a Social Enterprise laundry based in the ward that would
allow for the employment of excluded mothers including a small crèche.
The enterprise would address the laundry and promotion of real nappies
in North Leicestershire and South Derbyshire. The scheme is supported
in principle by the partners, Nature Babies (local nappy manufacturers),
Action for a better Charnwood and Charnwood Borough Council.
A local Nursery has been approached and it is hoped that in due course
they will offer cloth nappies in their care
programme.
Local authorities/hospitals/NHS professionals
Departments involved in the scheme:
Community partnerships
Recycling and Waste Management
All employees are made aware of the scheme by publicizing it in an internal
magazine.
Other Information:
The District Council sees the development of parent/child interaction
as a core to its social inclusion agenda.
There are further courses being run in the Community Office including
baby massage, effective breast-feeding for new mums and 2-year health
checks in the near future.
The real nappy project is a strand in a wider project to improve childcare
in the ward.
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