KIDSBANK : A HELPING HAND FOR FAMILIES
KIDSBANK : A HELPING HAND FOR FAMILIES
Local Charity , KidsBank , is helping make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families facing adversity across Cheshire West & Chester and Flintshire . By collecting new and pre-loved items for babies and children , including clothes , baby equipment , school uniforms , toys and toiletries , they help to alleviate the impact of childhood poverty by providing practical help as quickly as possible .
How We Began In 2018 , our founder , Cathy Pettingale , was watching a television interview of a young mother . The young mother talked about being forced to make impossible decisions about whether she should spend her remaining money on food so her children could eat , or heating so that they could keep warm . Overwhelmed with compassion , Cathy was compelled to do something to help families experiencing similar circumstances within her community . After exploring the best options to support families , Cathy established a team to set about establishing the foundations of KidsBank , a place where families could receive essential items for their children , so that they did not need to go without . In 2019 , KidsBank was born .
The Need and Impact The statistics are sobering : 1 in 3 children in the UK lives in poverty , and over 7.2 million families are going without essentials . KidsBank steps in to address this urgent need . Families they support face various challenges , from homelessness and unemployment to high living costs and domestic violence . For these families , KidsBank offers more than just material goods ; it provides hope , dignity and a sense of value .
One Family Support Worker highlighted how the impact goes beyond physical items when describing a little girl ’ s joy when opening her gift bundles from KidsBank , talking of the emotional lift it gave her and her mum .
A family spoke of the support KidsBank provided to her brother and his family following a devastating fire : ‘ A year ago , my brother lost everything in a fire in his home . Within 3 hours the police came with bags of clothes and books for the 3 younger
children . My niece aged 10 at the time , had been so upset to lose her ‘ library ’ she had built up , but the books you gave her were the start of her new bookshelf . She picked up a book among the chaos and disappeared in a new world you had given her .’
How it Works KidsBank ’ s dedicated team of volunteers and drivers , process donations from the local community , prepare referrals and make deliveries to families in need of support . Their Hub on Garden Lane in Chester serves as a lifeline for families in need . Everything provided to a family is carefully checked to maintain exceptional standards of quality ensuring that every item is a gift from one family to another .
Growing Need for Support Dee Denton , CEO at KidsBank explained that : ‘ It is only through the incredible kindness and generosity of our local community that KidsBank can provide this support to our families . Together , in 2023 , we ensured that 1,503 children were provided with general referral items , such as clothing , toiletries and nappies . A total of 387 children were provided with school uniform and 1,147 children with Christmas gift bundles . By the end of May 2024 , we have already received 50 % more referrals than the same period last year . We are so grateful to our donors , volunteers and drivers for their continued support as it ’ s only with our community ’ s support that we can continue to meet such a demand for our service .’
Get Involved
If you are inspired by KidsBank ’ s work , and want to help them meet this ever growing need for their services , there are many ways to get involved . Whether through donations , volunteering , or spreading the word , your contribution can make a difference .
Visit their website www . kidsbankchester . com to learn more about their impact .
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