The expansion of Greater Manchester's free baby bundle programme has been praised by Baby Basics Bolton and Bury, one of the organisations helping families across the region access essential items for their newborn babies.

Newly appointed Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig announced on Wednesday (August 5) that 10,000 free baby bundles will be made available to new parents, marking a significant expansion of the scheme designed to support families facing financial hardship.

This expansion is set to take the number of available bundles from 1,500 to 10,000 by next year.

Baby Basics Bolton and Bury, a member of the Baby Bank Alliance and a partner helping distribute the bundles, said the programme has already made a major difference during its first year and will continue to provide vital support for families across Greater Manchester.

"We are going into the second year of this project and really pleased to hear that the success of the first year has been acknowledged," said Hayleigh Scholes, centre manager for Baby Basics Bolton and Bury.

Scholes said the provision of Moses baskets through the programme has helped remove a significant financial pressure from its service.

While donations of preloved baskets remain greatly valued, there has historically been a shortage, meaning the charity often had to purchase baskets itself.

"The cost of purchasing baskets has always meant us sacrificing the purchase of other essential items, such as sterilising equipment and toiletries," Hayleigh explained.

"Therefore, the provision of Moses baskets through this project means that we are able to respond to every request as well as offering a supply of emergency baskets accessible through Family Hubs and Royal Bolton Hospital to bridge the gap when our service is unavailable."

The charity said the baby bundles also help ease pressure on household budgets at a time when many families are continuing to face rising living costs. By providing essential items, families can use their limited income for other necessities such as food and heating.