Little Village is an English charity, which operates "baby banks" to provide clothes, toys, and equipment for babies and young children aged 0 to 5 years in London. Goods are donated mostly by individuals, and parents in need can collect or be sent a "bundle" of items for each child in the household including clothing, toys, and toiletries, as well as bigger equipment such as beds and pushchairs. Families can return every 3 months to receive material support for a child, until the child is 5 years old.[1][2]

Little Village was founded by Sophia Parker in 2016 to help communities to share baby equipment locally.[3]

It is one of the four charities to which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex suggested people might donate instead of sending gifts for their newborn baby in 2019. In June 2022, Kate Middleton visited one of Little Village’s sites, located in Brent. .[4][5]

In 2020, CEO Sophia Parker reported to Camden council that they had given out 6,000 support bundles in the past year, double the number of the previous year.[6] In 2021, they reported that they had supported 11,000 children since the charity was founded in 2016.[7]


In 2022, they released an Impact Report for the previous year in which it is stated that the charity answered 4,862 requests for support in the previous year, aiding 6,483 children.[citation needed]

The charity currently operates sites in Tooting, Balham, Roehampton, Kings Cross, Hounslow, Hackney, and Wembley.[8]

References

  1. ^ "What we do". Little Village. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  2. ^ Roberts, Yvonne (8 December 2018). "Nappies, wipes ... and hope: how baby banks are transforming lives". The Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Nappies, wipes ... and hope: how baby banks are transforming lives". the Guardian. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Baby: Gifts and charitable donations". The Royal Household. April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Baby bank charity 'astounded' after gaining royal approval on Instagram". ITV News. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Little Village 'Baby bank' warns of isolation suffered by struggling parents". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. ^ david.watkins (12 February 2021). "The Duchess of Cambridge marks 5th anniversary of London Baby Bank Little Village". The Royal Family. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Volunteer with us - Little Village". littlevillagehq.org. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

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