RADIO and TV personality The Reverend Kate Bottley has officially opened a Sheffield charity’s bigger HQ as her first task as its new patron.
The former Gogglebox star, journalist, BBC2 Radio presenter and Church of England priest officially unveiled Baby Basics UK new premises on Glossop Road in Sheffield today (25 September).
Wake Smith Solicitors in Sheffield completed the lease work on the new premises for the national charity, which was set up in Sheffield in 2009 and now has 38 other sites across the UK.
Volunteer-led Baby Basics UK, which has a three strong paid team in the city and 20 volunteers, moved to bigger accommodation to cope with its rapid growth and will double its opening hours as part of the move to four days a week.
Sheffielder Rev Kate cut the ribbon on the new two-storey premises which houses the organisation’s donations of second-hand essentials and equipment for mothers and families struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby.
The Rev Kate Bottley said: "I am exceptionally proud to support Baby Basics in their work. All new parents need help and support from time to time but Baby Basics offers practical assistance and solidarity to the most vulnerable in our communities. Being a parent is worrying enough without the added stress of material insecurity. A little love goes a long way and it is clear that Baby Basics are making a real difference.”
Baby Basics UK is a national charity which currently helps around 1,200 mothers and families a year in Sheffield, and nationally 6,000.
It provides much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; including teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking.
Cat Ross, CEO of Baby Basics UK, said: “The new larger premises, and securing the Rev Kate Bottley as our first ever patron, is already making such a difference to us.
“Our role is to support an increasing number of families who are already working with front line health and social care professionals including social workers and health visitors, but need extra help.
“Our larger premises means we can store and hand out more donations of second-hand essentials and equipment for mothers and families, and help more people in time of need. Kate will be invaluable in helping us promote the charity, its work and its Christian ethos.”
Baby Basics started at The Kings Centre in Sheffield in 2009 and has grown into an expanding network of centres across the country each staffed by a committed team of volunteers.
