News / Crowdfunding
Bristol baby charity celebrates six months
Fledgling Bristol charity Baby Bank Network, who provide support and essential items for underprivileged parents in the city, are expecting to process their 100th referral this Christmas.
The organisation was set up six months ago, starting as a conversation between two Bristol mums and quickly growing into a fully-operating charity with its own premises, regular volunteers and a growing presence in the city.
A team of more than 35 helpers have put in hundreds of hours of work to get the charity on its feet, collecting baby essentials such as blankets, bottles and formula milk to be redistributed to the families who need them most.
is needed now More than ever
Referrals co-ordinator Suzy Harris said: “There certainly is no shortage of families in need of baby goods in Bristol. We’re working with referral partners to help some of the most vulnerable people in society – people who have nowhere else to turn for help with baby essentials. Until now, health visitors were feeling pretty helpless but they tell us this service is making a real difference.”
To date, the venture has been funded by small pots of money from various sources, with regular Cake and Donate events being held at Kudacan in Bishopston, public appeals via Localgiving and campaigns with retailers such as Waitrose and Starbucks – all of which allowed Baby Bank Network to upgrade from a donated unit at Big Yellow Storage to its own home in Southmead.
Their aim for 2016 is to become a registered charity in their own right, and secure regular income to help cover the ongoing costs of the operation – including a bigger, permanent home, a staff member and items which must be new such as mattresses and bottle teats for the babies.
For more information, visit at www.babybanknetwork.com.
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