Buggies 4 Brum – Businesses and Community Organisations Helping Families with Match My Project Support

Buggies 4 Brum has been highlighted as a successful approach to business and community partnership working through Match My Project.

The project asks for donations of pre-loved or new buggies or prams to give to families in need across Birmingham City.

Poverty, Health and Early Death

Imagine having to take your precious baby to a doctor’s appointment in a shopping trolley instead of a buggy or pram because you don’t have the money to buy one. This is a true story of one Birmingham mother, and it could also be true of countless others, who love and care for their children, but struggle in the face of poverty.

42% of children in Birmingham live in poverty after housing costs. That’s around 126,000 children aged under 18. Just under 6000 babies are born into poverty each year in Birmingham. 180 of those babies are of low birth weight even if they are full term, about 60 are very low weight – the weight of a small pineapple. About 91 babies will die before their first birthday. Being born early, having a low birth weight and of course living in poverty are all risks that all cluster and increase the risk of death. Babies being born in poverty are both more likely to be exposed to unsafe environments (e.g. a parent’s bed or unsafe transportation) and less likely to access vital healthcare (e.g. because their parents or guardians are unable to easily transport them to a doctor’s appointment), and thus more likely to die at an early age.

(Source: Public Health, Birmingham City Council)

Providing buggies to families in need reduces the risk of unsafe transportation for babies, which in turn can reduce the risk of early death.

Buggies 4 Brum Launch

The project was launched by Birmingham Play Care Network and Thrive Together Birmingham on Thursday 13 November at the Fort Shopping Centre, Birmingham with support from Birmingham City Council, BVSC and partners.

Those who attended heard from Jo Tonkin, Assistant Director of Public Health, Birmingham City Council about the need to support babies, children and families in poverty, as well as Emma Payne, Birmingham Play Care Network and Louise White, Thrive Together Birmingham about Buggies 4 Brum.

Match My Project

Match My Project is supporting Buggies 4 Brum through promoting the project through its online platform connecting Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) groups with businesses. Businesses and community groups can sign up for free. The platform is a database of hundreds of projects that require support. It enables businesses and the VCFSE sector to find 'matches' of projects that they can potentially co-deliver to achieve social impact in local communities. Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and BSol ICS utilise Match My Project as part of their services and procurement processes.

Birmingham was recognised as one of the strongest-performing areas on Match My Project in 2025, ranking among the top authorities for both matched and completed projects. Birmingham placed third nationally for completed projects, with 86 projects completed by the end of 2025, reflecting continued growth in local engagement and strong account management.

Birmingham was also highlighted in the latest Authority User Group (April 2026) for the success of its campaign-based approach, with Buggies4Brum specifically referenced as a standout example of how multiple businesses and community organisations can work together through the platform to deliver meaningful support for local families.

How You Can Help

Donate a Preloved Buggy or Pram- Our charity partners will repair and refresh it if necessary. Double buggies and newborn prams are especially needed.
Make a Financial Contribution – Help us buy new buggies in bulk. Your donation also supports jobs for people back into employment
Spread the word – get your employees, volunteers, customers or supporters on board –download the flyer below

Buggies 4 Brum Flyer

Sign up to Match My Project - for more opportunities to connect and work in partnership with businesses and community organisations

More Information

Buggies 4 Brum - Contact Emma Payne, Birmingham Play Care Network [email protected]
Visit https://thrivetogetherbham.org/buggies
Check out the recent BBC coverage of Buggies 4 Brum
Want to support or get involved in similar projects? Sign up to Match My Project and read our latest Community Investment Bulletin to find out more
Watch the BVSC Engage for Funding: Business and Community Partnerships Webinar (10 November)
Contact [email protected] to arrange to discuss further

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