Small Stuff Baby Bank and Midsomer Norton Methodist Church have joined together in a partnership to support families who are in need of baby clothes, toys and equipment.

The Baby Bank were given notice by their previous base and so they approached the Methodist Church to see if they had any space to operate from. One phone call between the Baby Bank Organiser, Rachel Steeper and the Minister, Rev Stephen Robinson, led them both to agree to explore a way forward which has now been agreed.

It means that alongside the Baby Bank having an additional space to operate from, they are also coming under the Church’s charitable status – as a partnership of the Church life and work. The baby bank has already moved to Leigh House, in Radstock and between the two new bases, it is hoped that more families will be able to access the items they need.

Rev. Stephen Robinson says: “We are delighted to form this new partnership and look forward to working with the Baby Bank in responding to the many needs of our community, which is a shared concern.

“As a Church we have a sense that through this partnership and the partnership with the Community Pantry at our site, God is at work and calling us to build new relationships in the community to work together in responding to need.

“We have also recently agreed to provide meeting space for Narcotics Anonymous.”

The Small Stuff Baby Bank will initially be open for people to drop in to (please be prepared to wait due to Covid safe practices which will be in place) on a Monday morning from 8.45 am – 10.15 am. This will be at the same time that the Methodist Church are starting a new Baby and Toddler Group. The timing is deliberately aimed at those who have dropped children off at school and want somewhere to meet. Once restrictions have lifted, there will be coffee and toast on the go as a welcome!

Founder of Small Stuff Baby Bank, Rachel Steeper, says: “Since opening eighteen months ago, the baby bank has become more and more busy. We have managed to carry on throughout the pandemic and hope we have helped to ease some of the strains the pandemic brought.

“We are now really excited to be developing the baby bank and working in partnership with Midsomer Norton Methodist Church. We hope that by working from two bases again, we will be able to reach more families.

“We would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful we are to Radstock Baptist Church for hosting and supporting us from the outset.”

The opening date is Monday, 12th July and anyone who has babies or toddlers is welcome to come.

For further information about the Baby and Toddler Group (not requests for children’s items/packs or to make donations to the baby bank) contact the Church on 01761 410574 or 07957 414970 or look on the Church Facebook page. Small Stuff Baby Bank can be contacted for requests and offers of donations by email at: [email protected] or on their Facebook pages: Small Stuff Baby Bank Facebook Group; Small Stuff Baby Bank; Small Stuff Baby Bank Volunteer’s Face Book Group; Small Stuff Volunteers.