Baby bank set up to tackle poverty needs more space

Mama to Mama provides essential pre-loved items to those living in poverty

A baby bank set up in Kent to help support people living in poverty is seeking more storage space due to its popularity.

Mama to Mama, based in Margate, is being supported by designer and presenter Whinnie Williams after being set up "accidentally" by Jayne Furness.

The project provides essential pre-loved items to vulnerable pregnant women, caregivers and children under five who are living in poverty.

Ms Furness started the initiative after taking some of her daughter's clothes to a local church: "I asked if I could help in anyway then started making some hampers."

Ms Furness, who moved to Margate in 2020, registered Mama to Mama as a charity last year.

It is now looking for a new warehouse for extra space.

She said: "We set up an Instagram account and it spiralled!

"We got messages from lots of people and went from making one package to 10, which would have a value of over £450 if it was all bough fresh from shops.

"It has everything a new mum might need, such as high chairs, feeding equipment and clothes.

"We have doubled our referrals and make 17 packages a month."