So we’ve now survived another year as a community enterprise, hooray! Making us 4 years old. To celebrate this milestone and as we look into the data to complete our final reports our team thought why not share the results a bit in a trivial fun way which highlights the need for Basch Helps like never before.
Despite a few setbacks last year we managed to deliver over 3500 AngelBox emergency relief packages, a record only dented by the catastrophic storms of January/February 2024 which made the roof of our warehouse collapse halting our work for a while to the disappointment and heartbreak of many.
This year 24-25, we aim to introduce a host of new services and improvements to our delivery service, parent support mechanisms and our digital resources and try our best to provide maximum benefit to the communities we serve.
These results aim to show an insight into how far we go as group of volunteers to serve underprivileged families.
The data was collated from both our referral and direct applications from June 2023 to May 2024.
So here we go with some of the results we picked up on last year.
How applications were received 2023-2024
Referrals for two years in a row still make up the majority of our applications.
58% of all applications received for an AngelBox we’re from our referral network & 31% of applications were made by direct applicants. The majority of applications in the year 23/24 were made from parts of North West, West & Central London. Lastly we saw an increase in other community groups and charities submitting applications on behalf of families and this doubled from the previous year.
How we did according to our feedback
Overall Basch Helps CIC Experience?
We asked 500 random service users & beneficiaries, what they thought of our overall experience from application to delivery of service on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 being the best). 75% of respondents gave the Basch Helps experience a 10/10.
How would you rate our volunteers?
The majority of survey respondents gave our shining volunteers an overwhelming 10 out of 10, which is a 26% increase year on year proving how well our training and the way in which we navigate changes to circumstances is working.
What features were most important to you of our AngelBox service?
26% of respondents like the idea that they can pick their baby essentials and equipment. 23% said they chose our service because everything is brand new and 21% found the entire process is easy.
Most popular gender 2023-2024
The baby boys marginally beat the girls to top spot
In the last financial year 46% of AngelBox recipients were marked as male and following closely behind 44% were female and 10% of parents didn’t want to know the gender.
Baby Age Groups we’ve supported 2023-2024
Consistent year in, year out! Newborns aged 0-3 months are our biggest beneficiaries.
At 34% newborns fresh out of the oven receive the most support from our AngelBox service but babies aged 6-9 months took 2nd place, a first for their age group taking over from the previous years demand for supporting 3-6 months babies. We also introduced our 18-24 months range which has seen strong demand in 23/24.
Parent Income Status 2023-2024
Universal Credit remains the main source of income for many of the parents we meet.
In the last financial year 46% of AngelBox recipients declared Universal Credit as their main source of income and the average household only had an average of £37 to spend a week. Whilst Asylum Seekers who have no right to government financial support came in second at 23% and they are purely surviving on handouts and £8 per week in NASS payments.
Residence Status of applicants 2023-2024
The housing crisis & increased evictions has found parents living room to room
Over 50% of our applicants are living in either a hotel, refuge or some form of temporary accommodation due to many reasons but most commonly the reason is eviction or more upsettingly fleeing domestic abuse whilst 16% of applicants almost nearly all young families still need a housing benefit boost to rent privately but are scared of the relationship with landlords and any sudden rent increases. Whilst those living in permanent social housing at 26% feel more secure about their living conditions.
Immigration status of applicants 2023-2024
Most of our applicants remain British citizens born in the UK and thats been consistent for 4 years now
38% of all applicants were British citizens aged 16 to 43 in the last financial year. Whilst 27% of applicants were listed as asylum seekers, a fractional drop on last years numbers and in third place came single parents who were granted Indefinite Leave to Remain and needed support until there application for benefits was processed.
Parent Relationship Status
Single Parents still make up the majority of our applications
59% of our applicants were single parents, however the peak of the cost of living crisis saw an overwhelming rise in the number of families applying for baby support.
Parents most requested baby equipment
Baby Carriers, Cots & Bouncers have frequently been the most distributed equipment we’ve delivered
Our baby equipment range was very popular in demand and for the first time we had waiting lists for items such as cots and sterilisers.
Parents most requested baby essentials
Although most of our baby essentials are popular and almost equal in demand, we thought we’d share some insight.
Clothing, Nappies & Milk Formula remain the most in demand baby essentials parents request. 0-3 months remains our most popular size, we’ve seen a drop in the number of breast pumps requested this year in favour of milk formula as mum’s cannot produce their own milk due to a variety of reasons such as malnutrition and mental health. Our most popular nappy size remains no.1 and our most popular milk formulas are always first infant.
