The Baby Bank Alliance is a national network that supports baby banks by providing resources, training, and opportunities for collaboration. Membership enables baby banks to work efficiently and effectively, ensuring they meet the growing needs of their communities.

Megan Roberts, Baby Bank Coordinator at The Parish Trust, shared her excitement about the development:

“Joining the Baby Bank Alliance is a huge step for us as we prepare to open the Caerphilly Baby Bank. This partnership gives us access to invaluable knowledge and resources, ensuring we can provide effective support for families in need. We are committed to making a real difference in our community and look forward to working with the Alliance to achieve this.”

Membership in the Baby Bank Alliance also strengthens our commitment to transparency and accountability. By adhering to the Alliance’s standards and best practices, we ensure that every donation we receive is managed responsibly and reaches those who need it most. This membership helps build trust with both our donors, who can be confident their contributions are making a meaningful impact, and the families who use our services, who can rely on us for consistent, professional support. The Parish Trust is dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of integrity in all that we do, and this partnership underscores our commitment to serving the community with fairness and transparency.

The Caerphilly Baby Bank will be a dedicated service providing essentials such as nappies, formula, clothing, and baby equipment to families referred by professionals, as well as tailored packages for mothers who need maternity items, and hospital packages. As a member of the Baby Bank Alliance, The Parish Trust will be well-placed and well-connected to offer a reliable and sustainable service that addresses the needs of vulnerable families.

Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts, CEO of The Parish Trust, welcomed the partnership:

“Joining the Baby Bank Alliance demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality support for families. The resources and guidance available through the Alliance will ensure that the Caerphilly Baby Bank operates effectively from day one. We are determined to meet the needs of local families and are confident this partnership will help us achieve that.”

In the coming weeks, The Parish Trust will release information on:

• How to Donate: Guidance for individuals and organisations looking to contribute essential items.
• How to Refer: Details for professionals and organisations to refer families to the Baby Bank.

The Caerphilly Baby Bank will be a key resource for families, and The Parish Trust encourages the local community to support this vital initiative.

The Baby Bank will officially start service on Monday 6th January 2025.

For more information about The Parish Trust Baby Bank, please click here.

The First Minister wanted to personally thank the army of volunteers that have helped the charity to provide food parcels, prescription delivery, and pastoral care to over 4,000 people since it was founded by Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts, the Chair of Trustees of the BMMR Parish Trust, and the Rector and Vicar of the parishes of Bedwas, Machen, Michaelston-y-Fedw and Rudry.

The First Minister arrived at 11 o’clock in the morning and was introduced to a selection of volunteers who have been giving their time and commitment in various ways through the different jobs that need doing in order to run the CARE Project, from call handling to delivering food.

After being introduced to the volunteers, the First Minister was shown how a food parcel is made up, and how it is tailored to the service users. The First Minister was impressed at the quantity of food that goes into a single food parcel. The First Minister spent an hour visiting the CARE Project, and was thanked by the Reverend Dean Aaron Roberts for coming, who presented him with a hamper of cheese as a thank you gift. The visit concluded with a session of interviews with news outlets and other media outside St. Thomas’ Church.

Speaking of the CARE Project, First Minister Mark Drakeford said:

Though the coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult time for us all, our volunteers in Wales have shown themselves to be a light in the dark.

Coming here today and meeting Reverend Dean and the team of volunteers has been a privilege. The CARE project is an impressive endeavour made up of selfless people who responded promptly and with warm hearts, despite trying circumstances.

I want to thank everyone at CARE and all of the volunteers across Wales for the invaluable work and support you have provided in the emergency response to coronavirus.

The Reverend Dean Aaron Roberts said:

We are delighted that the First Minister has visited us at the BMMR Parish Trust CARE Project. This visit has been a huge morale boost for our entire 100 volunteer strong workforce, who are of all ages, and have been providing practical assistance to an area covering around 15,000 people since March.

This has been a great encouragement that the difference our volunteers are making is being recognised and supported by the Government both locally and nationally. We have received incredible support from the local area with donations of money and food, but also of time and energy to ensure people are looked after.

We have also been greatly encouraged by a grant from the Welsh Government and other charitable organisations who saw our work as being vital towards mitigating both the direct and indirect consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Our charity will now prioritise looking at building resilience in our communities and continuing to offer practical assistance as we adjust our lives to the new normality we are about to discover as the nation seeks to recover from lockdown.

Also in attendance were local dignitaries from the Caerphilly County Borough Council, as well as Wayne David MP and Hefin David, Member of the Senedd.

ENDS.

To get help, please call our telephone line on 02921 880 212 option 0, or go to https://bmmr.church/care

To volunteer with the CARE Project, please go to https://bmmr.church/care and follow the on screen instructions.

Images by Julie Nobes.