Two local mums, Rebecca Mistry and Amy Tisi, have set up the Baby Bank Windsor to help families struggling to buy much-needed items for their new borns, and young children up to 5 years old.
Listen to BBC Radio Berkshire’s interview with co-founder Amy Tisi who discusses the scheme with Windsor midwife Carole Da Costa, and Vernon Harwood.
Find out more, and also how you can help them help our community, later in the article, and meet the “Windsor Community (Caseload Midwives) Team”
Photo by Abi Moore – edited by WWRA
Newborn Starter Kit
Inspired by Finland’s baby boxes and the trend for a baby shower celebration, Windsor baby Bank will provide expectant mums with a newborn starter kit. This will include toiletries for mother and baby, baby clothes, bedding, nappies, wipes and cotton wool all packed into a Moses basket.
Rebecca & Amy’s team also provide baby and toddler clothes from birth to five years and maternity/nursing clothing for expectant and breastfeeding mothers.
The Windsor Baby Bank will also hold a store of baby items such as cots, pushchairs, baby baths and slings which will be given out after specific requests from referring agencies.
Mums can make use of these items and return them to the Baby Bank once they have finished, in order to help other families.
BBC Radio Berkshire
Co-Founder, Amy Tisi, and Windsor Midwife Carole Da Costa (Carole is also a WWRA Member), were recently interviewed about the project by Vernon Harwood on BBC Radio Berkshire. Here’s what they said.
This is an edited recording of the show on Wednesday 18 February 2015
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How can you help?
Give some baby items:
We will need donations of clean, good quality clothing and second hand baby equipment. Imagine you are passing things on to a friend or your sister. All prams and pushchairs should be in good working order and display the relevant CE kitemark. Any electrical items such as baby monitors should include the operating instructions. Full details of items we can accept can be found in our full donations list.
- Donations can be left at Windsor Baptist Church on Friday mornings between 10:00am-12:30pm.
- Collection boxes will be available in town centre shops to encourage donations of wipes and nappies).
- Local church congregations will be approached to consider making regular contributions.
- Alternatively, contact us via private message on our Facebook page to arrange drop off.
Give your time:
- Volunteers will be needed to wash and press the clothes to ensure they are offered to families in the best possible condition.
- Contacts will also be needed to collect donations from supermarkets and local churches and to pack starter kits. We hope to engage local employers in a corporate volunteering partnership.
- As part of the newborn starter kit, we want to offer a new layette set of knitted cardigan, hat, booties and mittens. Keen knitters and crocheters will be able to donate handmade items which will be labelled as ‘a gift made with love’ and a handwritten greeting from the maker if desired.
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More information
For any further information, to discuss volunteering, donating or offering sponsorship, please contact Rebecca & Amy!
www.facebook.com/babybankwindsor
www.twitter.com/babybankwindsor
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Windsor Midwifery Team
Carole Da Costa is part of the amazing team of community midwives from Frimley Health that covers Windsor and the surrounding areas, including Ascot, Datchet, Eton, Eton Wick, Horton, Wraysbury, & Old Windsor.
Back row standing: Jemma Thornton ♦ Bobby Bygrave ♦ Bernice Littleboy ♦ Nicky Cengiz ♦Iñaki Mansilla ♦ Blanca Nieves ♦ Bethan Clark
Front row seated: Tracy Williams ♦ Jacky Young ♦ Emily Clark ♦ Carole Da Costa