A Bermondsey food pantry has now opened a baby bank giving out free clothing, prams and more.
Bermondsey Pantry – which found a permanent home last year after serving the community as a food bank – opened the baby bank next door, right beside Southwark Park on Slippers Place.
Kathy Heather, founder of Love North Southwark, the charity behind the project said: “The food pantry is popular but we noticed we would sometimes get things for babies donated. We would put them out and they’d get picked up straightaway.”
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She said she saw a TV programme about people reusing nappies and not being able to afford baby food.
“Being a new parent is hard enough, but money struggles put even more pressure on them.
“I knew we had to help,” she said.
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It opened in November and works to support young families with free clothing, prams, baby bottles, blankets and more. They are open on Wednesdays from 10 am – 1 pm and no referral or appointment is required.
“It’s free unless you want or are able to make a donation,” she explained. “Everyone is entitled to twelve items of clothing, one winter coat, one set of nappies and four items of baby food.”
The baby bank also gets visitors to fill in a form about their specific needs. “This is so if there’s something they can’t find, but really need, like a pram – we can call them as and when we get one in.”
Kathy said they are always looking for prams as they’re expensive and they get lots of requests for them from mums.
“We accept donations all week from Monday to Friday 10am – 1 pm, when the food pantry is open. We want people to know we are open and there’s some great stuff!”
Kathy explained that it’s hard to get people to come because of the stigma around it. “We don’t ask any questions about why someone’s there. It’s important they feel comfortable to come.”
Named Betty’s Baby Bank after her grandaughter, Kathy said that by calling it Betty’s she can help get rid of stigma. She explained that if she is contacting a family she can say “Betty has this or that item rather then saying it a baby bank.”
Meanwhile, the food pantry continues to grow, with around 150 people using it every week.
You can find the baby bank at 4-5 Gataker Street, Slippers Place, SE16 2EN (the same address as the pantry).
Betty’s Baby Bank is open on Wednesdays 10 am – 1 pm.
Bermondsey Pantry is open Monday to Friday 10 am – 1 pm.
Anyone who wants to help keep the baby bank going can donate here.
NOTE: You don’t have to be from Bermondsey to use it.
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