The incredible work of baby banks helping vulnerable mums

When Hilary Johnston set up the Cwtch Baby Bank in April 2016, it was the first of its kind in Wales.

The voluntary foundation based in Taffs Well redistributes donations of essential equipment, clothes, toys and toiletries to struggling mums and mums-to-be.

In four years it has helped 2,250 vulnerable families.

We've all heard of food banks, but now a number of baby banks are in existence and their services are proving ever-more vital.

Donations go directly to the people in desperate need, who are referred from social care, health professionals and other support agencies. ​

The women behind them know how difficult those first few years can be with a newborn. They just want to help in any way they can.

Hilary, a 71-year-old grandmother, set up Cwtch after she retired from 20 years as a foster parent and tried to off load the baby items she had collected over the years. Everything was still in good condition with years of use left in them but there was nowhere for her to send them. So she set up her own.

"I never thought it would grow as quickly as it did," Hilary said. "I had a house full of stuff from fostering and went online to look for a baby bank in the area, but couldn't find one.

"It's taken over my life. The initial idea in my head was that I would set it up and pass it on when I got to 70."

Hilary spends most of her days and weekends at the charity's unit at the Moy Road Industrial Centre in Taffs Well, which is chock-full of donated items.

The charity has just received funding to take on a member to staff to help out with the workload. The need is great, says Hilary, who added: "There's a lot of poverty in mid and south Wales."

The baby bank supplies "right across the board". "It could be a mum whose husband has lost their job and worrying about how they are going to provide for their new baby," Hilary explained.

"Or we help out girls in the sex traffic trade and work with homeless midwives and a number of hostels."

Hilary never meets the mums who benefit from her work, but that does not mean the importance of what she does is lost on her. It is enough to hear back from the health workers she works with.

Thanking Cwtch and Hilary for a donated high chair and cot, one said the mum was so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity, she burst into tears.

"Thank you so much - you are making a huge difference," they said.

Hilary said she welcomes any new, cleaned or laundered donations including clothes (up to two years), nursery and bedding, bath and changing, baby toiletries, feeding and sterilising, pushchairs, prams and strollers and small baby toys.

You can drop off donations at Unit16 a/b Moy Road Industrial Centre Taffs Well CF157QR, or find out more on their website.

 

'Health visitors contact us because women can't afford nappies or milk'

In the All Nations Church in Cardiff, two women coordinate Little Smarties Baby Bank, where donations from mums are then passed on to other mums and mums-to-be in the city.

Colleen O'Rourke and Alison Reynolds describe it simply as "women helping other women at their most vulnerable". Most of the mums they help are victims of poverty, trafficking, domestic violence, asylum seekers, refugees and young women in hostels.

Colleen, 63, retired from 38 years as a midwife over two years ago and started up the baby bank after hearing from the midwives in the Heath Hospital in Cardiff that mums were struggling with their newborns.

For her, being able to help other women, some of whom are "on the edge" is motivation enough.

Colleen said: "There's a lot of poverty around. We have health visitors contacting us because the women they are helping can barely afford baby nappies or baby milk.

"We see women who are asylum seekers, refugees, and we can see they really need the items they've asked for. They are absolutely overwhelmed when they receive their baskets, all made up with the donations. We don't just do newborn stuff but we bag up things like little shoes and coats for the next 12 months too.

"One woman we visited didn't even have curtains in her windows. She had a place for the children to sleep but she was sleeping on the floor. We were able to help out with the baby items and then referred her family to the church for help getting somewhere to sleep.

"It's amazing how we are all part of the All Nations Church. I believe everything we ask for and pray for, God provides."

Since setting up the Little Smarties baby bank two and a half years ago, its popularity has soared. In the first year, it helped around eight familes a week, but already in the first week of March, they have helped 25 families.

"It is good that Little Smarties are helping four times as many families than last year, but it just proves how poverty and hardships are affecting our communities," added Colleen.

Her sidekick, Alison, 54, volunteers at the baby bank, based at the Life Lounge on Whitchurch Road, around two to three days a week. The mum of two grown sons was made redundant from her job in 2018.

"My main motivation is that I'm a Christian, which spurs me on to help these women in need," Alison explained.

"It makes me smile aswell to help people. It's just something that makes me happy."

Realising the desperation of some women in Cardiff has been an eye opener for her however, especially helping out victims of trafficking. "Until you are involved in it, you don't really realise that these things go on," she said.

"One woman had an abusive partner who she had to flee from for her own safety and the safety of her baby. She left everything in the house. We could give her what she needed as a stop gap until she could get sorted.

"Just to be able to show them some kindness after all they've been through is so satisfying."

The baby bank takes donations of baby items and clothes up to age six, with there being a particular demand for clothes for newborns, blankets, cot sheets, nappies and moses baskets and stands.

Both women have become expert ironers as all clothes are laundered and ironed before they are handed out.

"I used to hate ironing, but I love it now," laughed Colleen. Both women have a clear vision: to make Little Smarties even bigger.

"And to make more mums aware there's somewhere they can go when they are desperate," said Alison.

To find out how you can volunteer or donate items to Little Smarties, visit their Facebook page here.

'There is so much poverty in the Cynon Valley'

In December 2019, Baby Basics launched from a small church in Penrhiwceiber in the heart of the Cynon Valley.

Based at St Winifred’s Church Hall, founder Nadine Norris said the baby bank had already helped a number of vulnerable families in the short time that it had been up and running.

Baby Basics is a national initiative which started out in Sheffield in 2009 and which is steadily growing across the country.

Nadine said: "The initiative came after a young mother from the congregation learned of a family in need in the local community. Although she could help a little she decided to speak to the local minister to see what the church could do to help and Baby Basics was the response.

"We generally supply moses basket starter packs filled with all the essential clothes, blankets, nappies and toiletries for mums and babies. We have also issued, prams, cots and cot beds in the short few months that we have been open.

"We want to keep on helping those in our community as there is so much poverty in the Cynon Valley."

Baby Basics provides much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; including but not limited to teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking. Working with midwives, health visitors and other professional groups to provide support directly where it is most needed, Baby Basics volunteers lovingly collect, sort and package a ‘Moses Basket’ of clothing, toiletries and essential baby equipment as an attractive gift to new mothers.

Nadine added: "The aim is to help these new mothers practically and generously, demonstrating the love of God through our care. God is at the centre of Baby Basics as we are inspired and motivated by His love for everyone. Every day we continue – and every item we send out, is thanks to His kindness, grace and provision."

To find out how you can volunteer or donate items to Baby Basics Penrhiwceiber, visit their Facebook page here.

You can also email [email protected] or phone 07543633425.