A Cowdenbeath charity will launch a childhood essentials kit aimed at complementing the Scottish Government’s baby box.

The Knights Templar recently won £3,000 of funding for the initiative after residents voted for it at the You Decide Cowdenbeath voting event.

£21,600 was set aside from the local community planning budget for the benefit of the community.

Residents, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises which deliver genuine social value were invited to apply.

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Knights Templar operations manager Katie Banks said: “We feel that any baby coming into the world deserves everything they need, whether their parents have the funds or not.

“We want to be able to step in because everybody deserves the essentials.”

On the "Templar Tots" initiative, she said: “This is going to compliment the box that you get from the NHS. The things that you get in this care package are not in that, so there’s no crossover.

“It’s other things that we think are essential for babies such as baby wipes, nappy creams, baby bottles, and body lotion.

"It costs around 23 pounds to make up a package, so we can do about 130 with this funding."

The charity is based in Cowdenbeath and provides food to those in need at its community hub. Referrals aren’t needed to receive food, but one will be necessary to receive a baby package.

Ms Banks said: “On our website there will be a referral form, but you can self-refer. You come to us and tell us what your problem is and what you need. You just need to give us some brief details and we’ll pull together the things that you need if you have them available.”