Money in the baby bank
Hundreds of young families from across Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire will receive essential supplies for their children thanks to a grant from West Wales Freemasons to the Plant Dewi charity.
The £60,000 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation will support the Baby Bundle Bank project to continue distributing much-needed essential items to families with babies under 12 months old who are struggling to purchase clothing, toiletries, blankets, cots and buggies etc. The project will gain referrals from families and agencies across the region to ensure no baby has to go without.
The cheque was presented to Plant Dewi manager, Catrin Eldred, by the West Wales Grand master, James Ross, at a ceremony at St Davids Cathedral in the presence of the Bishop, Rt Revd Dorrien Davies.
The Plant Dewi Baby Bundle Bank gave out 308 bundles to families in need in 2024 and this is set to continue for a further two years thanks to the Freemasons.
The grant will fund salaries and stock for the Baby Bundle Bank for two years and, during this time, Plant Dewi hopes to build its number of bases in each county and increase the number of volunteers to support the rising demand for the project. Volunteers help to sort donations as well as putting bespoke bundles together, depending on what the family needs.
The Baby Bundle Bank receives donations of new and good quality pre-loved items from families and supporters across the region and, more recently, a number of groups have been knitting for the project, making bags and organising fundraising events to go out and buy much-needed stock.
Around 30 per cent of children in Wales live in poverty and nearly 57 per cent of referrals received for a bundle last year were from families facing financial difficulties. Other reasons cited for referrals included domestic abuse, mental health issues, general health problems, lack of family support and living in temporary accommodation. Of those, 42 per cent were young parents, under the age of 26.
Plant Dewi Manager Catrin Eldred said:
“We’re extremely grateful to West Wales Freemasons for their generous grant. Plant Dewi has been working with families for 22 years and since the Baby Bundle Bank project was established in 2016, we’ve seen the demand for our services increase greatly. This grant allows us to secure the Baby Bundle Bank for another two years, at a time when we know that families are facing greater financial hardship.”
James Ross, Grand Master of the West Wales Freemasons, said:
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Plant Dewi with their essential help for families with new babies. Whether it’s providing baby clothes, cots and prams, or helping them to access vital services from other agencies, the wonderful work of this charity has helped hundreds of families from across the region.”