My name is Toyin Odumala.

I was abandoned as a newborn on July 26th 2001. After my mother had given birth to me at home, she left me outside her flat where two dog walkers found me wrapped in a denim jacket. I was taken to hospital and, thankfully, I was in perfect condition. After four months in care, I was adopted by my Nigerian parents whom I have lived with ever since. Not every newborn is this lucky.

On Friday 19th January 2024, a newborn baby was found in a shopping bag, wrapped in a towel by a dog walker in Newham.

Around 16 babies are abandoned in the UK per year. One life is enough. This needs to stop.

In the United States, Safe Haven Baby Boxes have been implemented across various states with great success. These boxes provide a safe space for mothers who feel they cannot care for their child to anonymously leave them at designated locations like fire stations or hospitals (source: Save Abandoned Babies Foundation). They are equipped with heating and cooling features and an alarm system that notifies emergency services immediately when a baby is placed inside.

The UK needs these boxes too; we need to support new and expecting mothers by offering them mental health support and advice in safe spaces which can help reduce the number of women making the painful decision to abandon their newborns.

We also need spaces that are open 24/7 and discreet as we understand many mothers may be ashamed or afraid. By implementing Safe Haven Baby Boxes across London initially, we can provide these women with an alternative option that ensures their child's safety above all else.

This is not just about saving lives; it's about providing support for those who feel they have no other options left. Let's make sure no baby has to start life abandoned on a doorstep or worse - sign this petition today so we can bring Safe Haven Baby Boxes to the UK!