Romsey baby bank races to £200k target amid soaring demand
A Hampshire baby bank has raised £43,718 within weeks of launching a £200,000 appeal to fund a move to larger premises. The Room to Grow campaign follows a 40% surge in referrals as cost-of-living pressures deepen. Families say the charity’s support offers stability when they need it most.
The cramped storeroom on Romsey’s Love Lane has become a lifeline for hundreds of struggling families. But Baby Necessities, the charity that stocks it with donated baby clothes, cots and nappies, has outgrown the space. On January 15 it launched Room to Grow, a £200,000 appeal to secure a warehouse-sized warehouse on the edge of town. After just six weeks, donations have hit £43,718—nearly a quarter of the total.
The charity’s CEO and co-founder, Hayleigh Jarvis, 34, said referrals have jumped 40% in the past year as inflation and housing costs push more parents to the brink. “We’re seeing families who never imagined needing help—single parents, those fleeing domestic abuse, parents with long-term illness,” Jarvis said. “Every donation means we can say yes to another family and give them a cot, a pushchair, or a week’s worth of nappies when they’ve run out of options.”
Key Points
- ✅ £43,718 raised in six weeks—21.9% of £200k target
- ⚡ Referrals up 40% year-on-year due to cost-of-living pressures
- 💡 Move to larger warehouse would triple storage and double volunteer capacity
A mother of two, who asked to be identified only as Sarah, 28, told how the charity’s emergency bundle of clothes and a travel cot sheltered her children after she fled an abusive relationship. “I turned up with just the clothes on my back and a buggy I’d borrowed,” she said. “They gave us everything—even a winter coat for my toddler. That kind of support doesn’t just clothe kids; it restores dignity.”
| Fundraising Effort | Contribution | Target Met |
|---|---|---|
| Skydiving challenge | £3,200 so far | 16% |
| Community pub quiz night | £1,150 | 5.8% |
| Barn dance (May 11) | Tickets £25 | 0% |
The charity’s Buy a Brick campaign lets supporters symbolically purchase a £50 brick in the new warehouse wall. More than 870 bricks have been sold, each inscribed with a donor’s message. “It’s a tangible way to leave a legacy,” Jarvis said. “One family bought a brick in memory of their baby and another in honour of a nurse who helped them through a difficult pregnancy.”
💡 Pro Tip
Donate online before April 15 and your gift will be matched pound-for-pound by a local anonymous donor, doubling its impact.
Volunteers currently sort donations in a 12ft-by-8ft room, stacking prams two-deep and cramming baby clothes into milk crates. The new 2,500 sq ft warehouse on Botley Road would create dedicated sorting bays, a volunteer lounge and a private consultation room for families. “Right now, we have to turn away referrals,” said trustee Mark Whitfield, 47. “That’s not acceptable when a cot can prevent a child from being placed in foster care.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 40% — Rise in referrals since January 2023
- 870+ — Bricks sold in Buy a Brick campaign
- 142 — Families supported every month
- £50 — Cost of one inscribed brick
Next month, the charity will host a sponsored walk along the 14-mile Test Way footpath. Hikers can register for £25, with funds going straight to the appeal. “We’re not asking for handouts,” Jarvis said. “We’re asking Romsey to step up so we can keep stepping in when families fall through the cracks.”
- April 15 — Match-funding deadline for matched donations
- May 11 — Barn dance at Romsey Community Centre
- September 7 — Sponsored Test Way walk
The charity’s bank account accepts donations at babynecessities.co.uk/room-to-grow. For brick purchases, supporters can call 01794 333 444 during office hours.