Rowena – Mrs Christmas

The lovely Rowena Stewart is doing another “Christmas Present Appeal” for us again this year. Last year, everyone was so generous, and the gifts were so very well received by children in poverty in our local area. These gifts go to children who would otherwise go without a present on Christmas morning, so every purchase makes a massive difference. Thank you Rowena, and all the lovely friends and supporters who purchase gifts.
This is the Amazon Wishlist that Rowena has made – please make a purchase, however small, and we will start gifting them shortly through referrals from Social Workers, Police Liaison Officers, Pastoral Care Workers, Health Visitors etc.

BUSY YEAR!

We are still busy supporting local families.  This year has been extremely busy, and with the addition of lockdown and covid issues, this has meant an increased need for food shops and general support for these families.

It has also been a busy year for us personally – with family illness, a wedding, a house move, grandchildren etc !   So apologies for the lack of updates

We appreciate your continued support, and are now in the throws of sorting Christmas referrals for the families struggling again this year.

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Belated Update for 2021 – We have continued running all through Lockdown!

Huge apologies for the lack of updates – it has been busy both with the charity and for us at home. Referrals are requested from Social Workers, Police Liaison Officers, School Pastoral Care Workers, Midwife, Refuge Workers etc.
The reason for the referral ranges from children under child protection, poverty, covid related issues, neglect, mental health & domestic violence.
Since January, we have provided the following:-
26 weekly food shops, 6 birthday gifts, 4 stairgates, belated Christmas gifts for two families (we weren’t made aware of their plight until after Christmas), 3 pushchairs, a mobile phone for a domestic violence referral, so mum could contact people, 3 lots of bedding, 9 single beds for children, 4 double beds, 4 cots, 5 washing machines (most of these cases were from children being found in filthy conditions, and dirty clothes), provided clothing for 5 families, 5 hoovers (these are essential when children are under child protection, as helps the parent keep the home clean), 2 highchairs, toys for 6 families, as children had nothing to play with, 8 lots of baby equipment for setting up mum for their newborn (most of these were from asylum seekers and babies born into this environment), 2 prams, school trousers to enable a child to start back at school, 2 fridge freezers for families moving into a new home after fleeing domestic violence
We are so grateful to everyone who supports us, both local companies who support us financially, and local people who donate items. We currently have a lot of items in storage, so will call out for things if we are in need of them.
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THANK YOU

Latest Update on Referrals and Support

Apologies for the lack of updates – during the past two months, we have been “business as usual”, and provided the following:- birthday gifts for a child in poverty; a cotbed and mattress for a child who’s parent has mental health issues due to domestic violence; a double buggy for a child under child protection; a cotbed and mattress for a child in poverty; bunkbeds, mattresses, bedding and a cotbed for a family in poverty; a double bed for a family who have been through domestic violence; childrens books for a child under a child protection plan; 6 washing machines for families who have been through domestic violence; school uniform and clothing for a child in neglect; an activity box for a child who is housebound due to parent’s poor mental health; clothing, toys and books for a child who has been homeless; a double bed and mattress for a family in poverty; a washing machine for a family who’s child is under child protection and was living in filthy conditions; a bunk bed for children who have been neglected; a single bed and craft activities for a child in poverty; ironing board, toaster, duvet and bedding for a family who have been through domestic violence; a birthday gift for a child who has witnessed domestic violence; a highchair for a child under child protection; a single bed for a family in poverty; a stairgate for a child under child protection; clothing and bedding for a child in poverty; school uniform for a child in poverty; stairgates for a family who have been through domestic violence; baby equipment for a newborn who’s young parent had been neglected; clothing for an abandoned child; a pram and carseat for a baby who’s parent has been through domestic violence; Lush products to numerous parents who have been through domestic violence; poverty or mental health; clothing for a child under child protection; toys, books and bedding for a child in poverty; 2 x bean bags for a child with complex needs; stairgates for a child under child protection; a double bed for a parent who has been homeless; a foodshop for a family in poverty; a single bed for a child under child protection; a fridge freezer and curtains for a family who have been through domestic violence; birthday gifts for a child in poverty; a double mattress and microwave for a family who have escaped domestic violence; household items for a family who had been homeless; a single mattress for a child in poverty who was sleeping on the floor; baby equipment for a baby born into poverty; a pushchair for a young mum care leaver; bedding, curtains, toys and books for a family in poverty; a foodshop for a family who’s child is under child protection; 2 x single beds for a family in poverty, as the children were sleeping on the floor; a hoover for a family in poverty with health issues; birthday gifts for a child in poverty; bunkbeds for a family in poverty; buggy, clothing, stairgate and toys for a child in Human Trafficking Refuge; newborn baby clothes and equipment for a baby in the Human Trafficking Refuge; and a cotbed and pushchair for a family in poverty. We are clearing space ready for Christmas gifts and treats, so will call out for items on our page, as we need them. Thank you all for your continued support

 

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Busy Pandemic Period

We have continued to be busy during the current epidemic. In the past month, we have supporting families with the following:- a fridge freezer to a family who have fled domestic violence; a cot for a child due to neglect; clothing and bedding for a child in poverty; a washing machine for a family who have fled domestic violence; a double mattress for a family in poverty; a pushchair for a young mum in poverty; a hoover & stairgate for a parent in poverty; a highchair for a family who have been through domestic violence; a moses basket, nappies and toys for a baby born in poverty; a fridge freezer and washing machine for a family leaving the refuge; 2 x mattresses for vulnerable children; a cot and beds for a family in poverty; bunk beds for a family who have fled domestic violence; a double bed for a family who were homeless; a fold up bed for a family in poverty; new beds for children due to neglect; moses basket, baby bath, clothing and blankets for a baby born after domestic violence and mum had been homeless; a freezer for a family due to poverty and mental health issues; household items, kitchen equipment and bedding for a family moving from the refuge; a washing machine for a family in poverty with severe health issues; a highchair and stairgate for a child under child protection; 19 x weekly food shops for families in poverty; 2 x birthday gifts for children in poverty; a double bed and 2 single beds for a family who’s children had been subjected to abuse; bedding and stairgate for a family in poverty; a cot for a family in poverty; washing machine, lamps, hoover and household items for a family leaving the refuge; school uniform for a child in poverty; and a birthday gift for a child who had been subjected to abuse. We have also provided toiletries, food treats, cleaning products and craft items for numerous families.
Thank you to everyone who supports us. If anyone would like to raise funds for us through their work or business, please email us – ashleysbirthdaybank@gmail.com The food shops alone this month have cost over £1500! We can only continue to support families through funding and grants. We run the charity completely on a voluntary basis, so every penny goes where it should.
We are always in need of stairgates, so if anyone has any they could donate, please email us
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Lovely Feedback

A lovely email received this morning – ” I just wanted to say a massive thank you for supporting one of our families again. I am extremely grateful, as I know the Mum will be. Your speed in accepting the referral and acting on it is amazing – thank you, thank you, thank you!

Another lovely message received from a Family Support Practitioner – “Just a quick note to thank you for the two children’s mattresses that were delivered earlier in the week; they will make a huge difference to two very vulnerable little people – Thank you x”

 

May & June Update

During the past month, we have provided the following;- baby clothes and nappies for a family in poverty; a stairgate for a child being safeguarded; a cot for a child due to domestic violence; a cotbed for a child in poverty; kitchen items for a parent in poverty; shoes for a child in poverty; a birthday present for a child in poverty; 12 weekly food shops for families in poverty; a double bed for a parent setting up a new home after domestic violence; a moses basket, clothes and nappies for a baby; lots of arts, crafts and games for families in poverty in lockdown; beds for a family setting up home after being in temporary accommodation; a washing machine for a parent in poverty who has severe mental health; microwave and clothes drier for a parent in poverty; blinds for childrens room due to children being safeguarded; clothes and toys for a baby in poverty; a bed frame for a child who’s parent has mental health issues; bed and a food shop for a family who have been through domestic violence; beds for a family who have set up a new home following domestic violence; clothes for a child who’s parent has mental health issues; a microwave for a family in poverty; a pram, moses basket, car seat, clothes and nappies for a baby who’s mother has escaped domestic violence; mattresses and beds for a family in poverty who’s children were sleeping on the floor; birthday presents for a child in poverty; a baby monitor for a vulnerable child; a fridge and freeezer for a family who have escaped domestic violence; a hoover for a parent suffering mental health; toys for a child who has been in care; cot, bedding, highchair, buggy and toys for a baby due to domestic violence.

Thank you to everyone who supports us.

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Lockdown Update

The past two weeks have been really busy. We have continued to provide arts & craft, and toys for children in poverty to get them through the lockdown period; baby equipment, clothes & nappies to a baby born into poverty; a microwave and clothes airer for a family in poverty; a highchair and stairgate for a child in poverty; bunk beds and mattresses for children who were sleeping on the floor; stairgate and cupboard locks for a toddler who’s parent had escaped domestic violence; a travel cot for a child in poverty; toys and games for a child in poverty; 2 beds for a family leaving the refuge and setting up home; baby equipment for a baby under child protection; numerous food shops for families in poverty; a triple canvas wardrobe for a family in poverty; kitchen equipment and a triple canvas wardrobe for a family leaving the refuge; cot bed, bedding and mattress for a child in poverty; clothing for siblings in poverty who’s parent has suffered domestic violence; a birthday present for a child in lockdown, who was staying separately to their parent; bedding and a hoover for a family in poverty; two beds for a family who had been homeless, and are now setting up a new home.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through this difficult period. We continue to support the families as much as we can

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