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Diocesan project supports families with new babies

Jill Hamilton receives some of the handknit items for Baby Basics from Paddi Totten of Glenavy Open Door Club.
Jill Hamilton receives some of the handknit items for Baby Basics from Paddi Totten of Glenavy Open Door Club.

The Church of Ireland’s North Belfast Centre of Mission in Connor Diocese has launched a new initiative to support families in need by supplying essential items following the birth of a new baby.

Working from the Connect Base in Shankill Road, Baby Basics Belfast is a volunteer–led project aiming to support new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby.

It is the first in Ireland and is part of a growing network of Baby Basics centres across the UK.

Baby Basics Belfast is led by Connor Diocesan Children’s Project Officer Jill Hamilton and Lead Pioneer Evangelist in the Centre for Mission, Sister Karen Webb.

Jill said: “Baby Basics Belfast works alongside health professionals from local Sure Start and Health Centres who refer families in need. We are then able to support the families by providing them with essential equipment, clothing and toiletries.”

Baby Basics Belfast works in partnership with local churches and relies on donations from congregations. “We ask participating parishes to support us for a month at a time by highlighting Baby Basics during the Sunday Service and asking the congregation to donate items that can be passed on to families in need,” Jill said.

Baby Basics are delivered to families in a Moses basket or similar container stocked with essential items, including nappies and wipes.
Baby Basics are delivered to families in a Moses basket or similar container stocked with essential items, including nappies and wipes.

One of the first parishes to step up to the four–week Baby Basics challenge was Glenavy, and earlier this month Jill collected two car loads of donations. “The congregation was so generous and donated an amazing array of items from the ‘shopping list’ provided,” Jill said.

Among the items were beautiful blankets, hats, booties, cardigans, coats handknit and crocheted by ladies from Glenavy Parish’s Open Door senior citizens club.

Through Baby Basics, families receive a Moses basket or other container filled with essential items for mother and baby, and the project will also include items for dad and other siblings in the family if appropriate.

Jill stressed: “The health professional who understands the needs of the family is an essential link in the chain to make sure families receive items that are useful to them.”

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