Churches Support Mothers and Infants in Volunteer Scheme

Supporting and caring for a baby in the earliest stages of their life should be a joyous time, but for many it's also an incredibly stressful time. Young Mums, refugees, and those seeking safety from abusive relationships, can often struggle to provide children with the equipment, bedding and clothing they need not just to survive, but to thrive and flourish.

Diocesan Senior Outreach Officer, Christoph Auckland said, "As both the cost-of-living crisis escalates and we continue to provide safety to Ukrainian and Afghan refugees in particular, the need in our communities is only going to increase. Churches like St Mary's, Port Talbot, and St Winifred's in Penrhiwceiber are not just providing much needed support for these families, but through the Baby Basics scheme are showing a transformative expression of the Gospel in action."

Baby Basics is a volunteer-led project providing much needed essentials and equipment to those mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; such as teenage mums, people seeking asylum, and women fleeing domestic abuse.

St Mary’s Church, has been a site for Baby Basics for nearly a year.

Fr Miles Pateman, vicar for St Mary and Holy Trinity, said that operating a Baby Basics site “felt important as a way of showing our commitment to Christ in coming to those who need help. Of course, we were thinking about this before the cost-of-living crisis kicked in and people have been very generous in donating items to the [donations] bank. I'm expecting demand for supplies to increase over the winter.”

Working with midwives, health visitors, and other professional groups, Baby Basics aims to provide support directly where it is most needed by providing a ‘Moses Basket’ of clothing, toiletries, and essential baby equipment to new mothers, as well as offering larger equipment such as prams and cots where it is needed.

At St Mary’s, Fr Miles said, “We've got a good team of volunteers at church, who help putting the Moses baskets together. We see it as being really important and St Mary’s has always had a heart for charity. One of our volunteers said ‘that is just what we're supposed to be doing, isn't it?’ They've definitely taken it to heart and it's appreciated as one of the many things we do in the community now.”

Provisions are given to families who need them through medical or social care referrals.

Fr Miles said, “We've heard back from the social workers and the midwives of how well received the baskets were and how grateful people were to have that little bit of help and to know that someone cares about their situation.”

To become a Baby Basics site there is a small amount of money that needs to be raised to hold a licence.

The money for the licence for St Mary’s has come out of targeted fundraising from the church’s parent and toddler playgroup that meets three times a week. They love supporting charitable projects or art projects and things and they raised the money in about a month.

Fr Miles said, “It is a way of showing that the church is an active, caring community of people who are looking to reach out to those who needs to be reached and help.”

There are also Baby Basics sites at:

St David's Merthyr Tydfil St David's Baby Bank, Merthyr Tydfil (stdavidsbabybank.org.uk)

St Winifred's Church, Penrhiwceiber St Winifred's Church Penrhiwceiber - Home | Facebook

Contact these centres directly if you're interested in collecting and donating items - a list of what's needed and the condition required can be found online at www.baby-basics.org.uk/how-to-get-involved/giving-supplies

You can find more information on Baby Basics on their website: www.baby-basics.org.uk or get in touch with Senior Outreach Officer, Christoph at christophauckland@cinw.org.uk