Welcoming a baby into the family should be a joyous time filled with love, hope and excitement. However, not every family has the resources to properly prepare. That’s where our latest Local Business Spotlight, Little Stars Baby Banks, steps in. Founded with the purpose to assist parents and babies in need, Little Stars is making waves in Shropshire.
We recently caught up with Leanne at her Storage King unit to discuss her tremendous efforts. Here’s what she had to say.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and Little Stars Baby Bank?
I’m Leanne Simcoe, and I’m the founder of Little Stars Baby Bank in Shropshire. We provide essentials for mum and baby, including equipment, clothing, nappies, and baby wipes. We launched during the pandemic in August 2020 and network with a range of organisations across Shropshire, working with domestic abuse charities, midwives, health visitors, and social workers.
What inspired you to get involved in the charitable industry?
I was at the end of my maternity leave and had a lot of quality baby items that I wanted to give to those who needed them most. At the time, there were no baby banks in Shropshire that helped with clothing and equipment. Once I had the idea, I couldn’t let it go, and since then, we’ve grown into a recognised charity that gets essential baby items to those in need.
What makes Little Stars stand out?
We are the only full baby bank in Shropshire providing maternity essentials for mum and baby. Another thing that sets us apart is our high standard of quality, and our referral process. We have made it as simple as possible for organisations to contact us and advise us of their requirements.
What challenges have you faced as a baby bank?
Our biggest challenge was finding secure storage space and networking with the right organisations. I came from a corporate background and had no contacts within the health services already working with families in need. Ultimately it came down to positive word of mouth and referrals and then building on those relationships.
How has Storage King helped Little Stars?
We’ve been with Storage King since we started in 2020, and we chose this facility because it’s really close to our offices and incredibly convenient. It’s easy to access our donations in a hurry, and the manager has been really accommodating of our storage needs.
What’s in the pipeline for your charity?
We’re working on growing our trustee board and bringing in volunteers. We initially started helping with ages nought to five years, but we’re expanding to include teens and school uniforms in the coming months. Our goal is to become a one-stop-shop supporting children in need, so we’ve got an exciting year ahead of us!
With a purpose and a drive to help those in need, Little Stars Baby Bank is making a tremendous difference in the Shropshire community. If you would like to get in touch with them or donate, you can visit their website.
