In 2015, a regional branch of the national charity Baby Basics was established to serve new mothers and their babies in north and west Norfolk.
A decade on and this volunteer-led initiative, run out of St Nicholas Church in Dersingham, has gone from strength to strength – a consequence of both brilliant community spirit and ever-growing need.
The Baby Basics West Norfolk team meet in the church each Tuesday to prepare bespoke starter packs which are tailored to the precise needs of each new mum and her baby.
Referrals are sent through by local healthcare professionals and charitable organisations to ensure help is provided to those contending with challenges including poverty, homelessness, teenage parenthood, human trafficking and domestic violence.
Not only has the project continued to send out more and more parcels of hope to vulnerable mums and babies over the past decade – in each of the last two years more than 370 orders were fulfilled – it has also expanded the items it provides.
To ensure no newborn baby goes without essential equipment, the service now increasingly sources changing mats, bouncy chairs, cots and prams to meet emergency requirements.
Baby Basics West Norfolk has been led by Maggie Anderson since 2016. Explaining why the service has become such a lifeline to mothers and healthcare professionals throughout Norfolk, Maggie said:
“Each Moses basket is a gift to the mum, so she looks through all the clothes and items in there and thinks ‘I’ve got everything I need, I don’t have to worry anymore’.
“People feel very anxious when they can’t afford the things they need. They want the best for their baby, and we get feedback that without us they wouldn’t know where to go or who to turn to. It’s all about making the women and young families feel worthy, because they most definitely are.”
None of those who generously donate their time and skill to compile these lovingly tailored baskets do so for recognition, but the reputation of Baby Basics West Norfolk has steadily grown since its 2015 inception.
Indeed, the charity’s work came to even greater prominence in 2020 when HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited Dersingham to support and celebrate the team’s vital community endeavours.