A decade after it was founded by three local mums in a living room, a city baby bank has supported more than 11,000 families experiencing poverty or crisis. The charity Baby Bank Network Bristol has redistributed nearly half a million essential items such as clothes and prams across the city since 2015. It is now running a fundraising campaign until 30 June – called Power The Hive – to allow it to move to a larger site and help more families. Local NHS midwife Rachel Fitzgibbon, who made the 11,000th referral to the charity, said: "I strongly believe every child deserves a safe, healthy start in life – and that begins with access to the essentials, from day one." The charity, which is run from a small warehouse in Fishponds, helps around 40 families a week and has 325 referral partners. A third of children in the UK are living in poverty – a record 4.5 million – nearly half of whom are under the age of four, according to recent government figures. The charity was founded in June 2015, by Becky Gilbert, Eva Fernandes, and Melissa Burgers, who initially aimed to help just three families per week. The charity now has five part-time staff, a board of trustees and around 20 volunteers. It estimates that the value of the 460,000 mostly secondhand items it has so far redistributed, if new, would be £3.4m. The organisation relies entirely on donations, grants and fundraising. Volunteer trustee Morena Staiano said: "Volunteering has opened my eyes to the resilience and strength of our community. "My hope is that Baby Bank Network Bristol continues to be a beacon of hope and support for families." The Power The Hive campaign aims to raise £10,000 in a week via the online platform Big Give, with the first £5,000 to be matched by radio company Global under its Make Some Noise scheme. Follow BBC Bristol onFacebook,XandInstagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or viaWhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Baby bank supports 11,000 families with essentials
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"Baby Bank Network Bristol Aids Over 11,000 Families with Essential Items"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The Baby Bank Network Bristol, a charity established a decade ago by three local mothers, has made a significant impact in the community by providing essential items to over 11,000 families facing poverty or crises. Since its inception in 2015, the organization has redistributed nearly half a million items, including clothing and prams, to support families in need. Currently operating from a small warehouse in Fishponds, the Baby Bank assists around 40 families each week and collaborates with 325 referral partners. Local NHS midwife Rachel Fitzgibbon highlighted the importance of the charity, stating that every child deserves a safe and healthy start in life, which begins with access to essential items from day one. The organization has grown from its humble beginnings, where the founders aimed to help just three families weekly, to now employing five part-time staff members and relying on the efforts of approximately 20 volunteers.
In response to the growing demand for its services, the Baby Bank Network Bristol has launched a fundraising campaign named Power The Hive, which runs until June 30. The initiative aims to raise £10,000 in a week through the online platform Big Give, with the first £5,000 being matched by Global under its Make Some Noise scheme. Recent government statistics reveal that one-third of children in the UK, amounting to a record 4.5 million, live in poverty, with nearly half of these children being under the age of four. The charity estimates that the value of the 460,000 items it has redistributed, if new, would total £3.4 million. Volunteer trustee Morena Staiano expressed her appreciation for the resilience of the community, stating her hope that the Baby Bank continues to serve as a beacon of hope and support for families in need.
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