SHETLAND star Ashley Jensen is backing The Sun’s Cosy at Christmas campaign – and hailed it as a ray of light in a dark world.
The crime drama actress, 54, arrived at her local baby bank with a sack full of cuddly toys.
She said: “There’s so much brutality in the world at the moment.
“I feel quite emotional about meeting the mums here today.
“It’s really heart-warming to know there are people making an effort and doing good work because they want to help others.”
Ashley, who visited the centre in Bath, is backing the campaign which has been launched by The Sun in partnership with Save The Children UK, baby bank group Little Village and more than 200 other baby banks nationwide to help struggling families this Christmas.
We are asking readers to donate money or new and good-quality pre-loved warm clothing — including coats, jumpers and nightwear — to your nearby baby bank.
They provide essentials such as nappies, clothes, toys and prams to needy families with children aged up to five.
Since the launch, a host of celebrities have given us their support, including Chloe Madeley and Helen Flanagan.
And supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has donated £20,000 worth of pyjamas, some of which Ashley gave to one-year-old Poppy and her mum Kelly Banks, 37, at The Nest Project in the Somerset city.
DONATE BABY GOODS: You can find the address of your local baby bank at littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks. They appreciate new or like-new items. Each bank may have different needs, so it is best to check with them first.
BABY BANKS ACCEPT: Winter clothing, pyjamas, baby beds and bedding, pushchairs, slings and carriers in good working order, high chairs/feeding products, nappies and wipes, toys and books and toiletries.
BABY BANKS DO NOT ACCEPT: Used mattresses, used breast pumps, bottles, teats or toiletries, used car seats, single beds or larger, pregnancy or any maternity items, reusable nappies and wipes, baby foods and medicines.
DONATE YOUR TIME: See if there is one near you by going to littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks.
DONATE MONEY: Scan the QR code, right, or visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/babybanks.
CALLING ALL BUSINESSES: If you would like to donate, email fabulous digital@thesun.co.uk.
Kelly lived in sheltered accommodation for more than a year before the Julian House homeless charity helped her find a home when she was 32 weeks pregnant.
After spending her savings buying home essentials, including a washing machine and cooker, she had no cash left for baby items.
Then a social worker introduced Kelly to The Nest Project, which was launched by Vineyard Bath Church seven years ago.
It has now distributed more than 10,000 essentials to struggling families with under-fives in the Bath and North East Somerset area.
Kelly added: “They have been brilliant.
“They gave me clothes, Moses basket, steriliser, baby chair and nappies, literally everything I needed.
“I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done.
“They even bought Poppy new shoes after she started walking. I don’t know what I’d have done otherwise.”
Kelly now attends the weekly playgroup sessions the bank runs, and said: “They know if I’m upset.
“They offer to take Poppy for five minutes so I can breathe. It’s a great support.
“They make you feel that no matter what situation you are in, they will help you — and you can meet other adults.”
Adorable Poppy happily sat on Ashley’s knee while other mums at the project spoke openly to the actress about how they are anxious heading into Christmas, particularly about the financial pressure on families.
Helen Prior, 38, told Ashley that she felt so pressured by social media to look as though she had plenty of gifts under the tree for her three-year-old daughter Millie, that she resorted to wrapping up nappies to look like presents.
She said: “It was her first Christmas, she was six months old.
“I felt I needed to make it seem as though she had loads.
“I wrapped up nappies and a box of wet wipes to make it look like she did, but she actually had hardly anything.
“With social media, people look as though they have the perfect Christmas with all these presents under a giant tree.
“It makes you feel guilty if you can’t afford to buy all those things.
“And actually, that is not a perfect Christmas.
“A perfect Christmas is being with whoever you’ve got in your little bubble and doing the best you can on that day.”
Reflecting on the pressures new mums face, Ashley, who has a 14-year-old son called Frankie from her previous marriage, said: “At the beginning of motherhood, it can be isolating.
“I’ve spoken to the women here and they were all pregnant or new mums during Covid, so it was even more isolating.
“All these women I’ve met today are just going through a tough time in their lives, but we need to realise that there shouldn’t be a stigma around that. It could happen to anyone.”
Ashley was raised by her mum Margaret in the small market town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.
Her big break came in 2005 with an Emmy-nominated role as Maggie in Ricky Gervais’s Extras.
She recently moved back to the UK after six years of living in Hollywood, where she starred in TV shows Ugly Betty and Catastrophe and movies The Lobster.
Ashley, who lives with her partner, actor Kenny Doughty, and Frankie, said: “The irony is, you look at Bath and you think it’s very middle class — but there’s poverty everywhere.
“I would urge everyone to support the campaign in any way they can.”
The Nest Project has given away 63 per cent more items this year than in 2022.
Project leader Vix Blythe, 37, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has had a tremendous impact.
“Demand is increasing for even the most basic things, like nappies.
“Hopefully this campaign will help us meet the demand and help more people.”
Ashley, who has been a Save The Children supporter since 2011, added: “Baby banks help those in need realise they’re not alone.
“Support them by donating your old baby equipment and clothes to your local bank, spend a few hours volunteering, or, if you can, donate cash. It’ll make a huge difference.”
