FAMILIES struggling to provide essentials for their babies and young children are being given a helping hand in Ventnor.

Baby Box is a new community project that has been set up by local parents concerned at increasing child poverty on the Isle of Wight.

With the number of visits a person can make to the IW Foodbank limited, and Universal Credit being rolled out on the Isle of Wight for the first time, it is feared some people will struggle financially.

Founder of the group Marzena Turner said: "If parents can't afford food, how can they be expected to afford nappies, bottles and baby clothes? The sad truth is — they can't.

"We need to help families in our community that are struggling. We need your help to get this community initiative off the ground."

The group is appealing for donations of baby and toddler clothes (from newborn to five years), cot sheets and blankets, bottles, dummies, nappies of differing sizes, baby wipes, baby bath products, and baby lotions.

Donations should be in a clean and useable state, and bottles and dummies must be new.

Those who don't have any baby or toddler items are invited to donate other things such as Christmas treats, gifts for small children or babies, or items suitable for use in fundraising raffles.

The collection point is Isle of Vapes, Pier Street, Ventnor, which is open every day except Sunday.

Distribution is on Friday mornings at 11am at Ventnor Old Youth Club, Victoria Street.

To request any items, send a message to the Facebook page Baby Box IOW or email babyboxiow@gmail.com with what you need, including sizes of nappies or age of clothing.

The project is supported by Ventnor Town Council.