Informed by Lancaster’s Born into Care research series,?which aims to ensure mothers?remain?with their babies whenever it is safe to do so, the organisation uses HOPE Boxes to?maintain?a connection between?Mother and child. These boxes?are given to both mother and baby and?contain?objects like baby books, blankets?swapped between the two, and other specially chosen items to?ease the pain and grief of separation.?The contents and?offer?of boxes are codesigned with the HOPE mothers – a group of mothers who have also experienced separation at birth, and who?are central to the project.?
Funding from the AHRC IAA?supported the co-design work with the HOPE mothers,?production of Giving HOPE’s original set of films, and?piloting the boxes in 6 health trusts in the UK.?The team have also developed a comprehensive online training course for practitioners to?most effectively implement HOPE Boxes, with new modules being developed.?
Speaking on the success of the enterprise, Operations Manager Jane Huddleston has said?“As a dynamic organisation we are codesigning the HOPE box and training offer for a broader range of situations. We are proud to already be working with lived experience groups and staff in the women's prison estate to support women and babies separated at birth there.?
Work?with Adoption England is looking at the Giving HOPE pathway if the longer term outcome is Adoption.
We are developing updated baby boxes which reflect this work to be available to?purchase later in 2026.?We are?also?aiming for?additional?training modules for adopting families and foster carers to be developed in Summer 2026 available to?purchase?from?Autumn 2026.”?
The project has grown significantly since launching, with Giving Hope now working with 54 partners across all regions of England to deliver over a thousand pairs of boxes.?Sales in boxes and training totaled over?£170,000 in 2025, with a further £123,000 from grants and projects also to be put back into?the?organisation.?
HOPE?Boxes are now being distributed throughout the country, creating a meaningful change in ensuring that mothers and babies are treated with?care, dignity, and humanity?during this?potentially traumatic?period.?More information can be found on the .?