In March 2025, Growbaby West Wilts held its very first session… in Chapel Hall. One of the alcoves held a few small white baskets containing the clothing donations we had at the time, and just three items were gifted that day.
Since then, Growbaby has moved into the beautiful Sanctuary space. This has given us much more room to build a welcoming community — somewhere to play, share toast, and create a space for parents and carers to browse donations of baby and toddler clothing, toiletries, and equipment. Everything is given freely, with no referral needed—anyone is welcome. Each item is there to bless a family who may need it. Those small white baskets have now been replaced by large storage boxes, packed to the brim with donations, for which we are so grateful.
Those three items have now grown to over 2,500 items gifted to families.
Our simple table of tea, coffee, biscuits, and bananas has also grown. Seeing a need for something more substantial, we introduced the “Toast Table” in November and added more highchairs around it. It has been lovely to see how something as simple as tea and toast has flourished. Families gather together—small children in highchairs, parents and carers, and often members of the team too. This is where connection and community happen: people sitting together, sharing conversations, and building relationships.
A few months ago, I sat with a new mum who couldn’t believe that everything spread across the tables had been donated. “How do you get everything without any funds?” she asked. Each week, we are so blessed to receive emails and messages offering donations. New families often return with items to give as well. We receive toiletries—including much-needed nappies and baby wipes—from supermarket donations, along with unopened formula and baby meals. Every item is a blessing to a family who needs it.
Each week, I am reminded that through Growbaby we are being Jesus’ hands and feet—sorting donations, chatting with parents and carers, listening, sharing life stories, making tea and coffee, and offering food. I often wonder which part of the room Jesus would choose to sit in.
On average, around 14 families come to Growbaby each week. We see mostly mums, but also dads, childminders, nannies, foster carers, and grandparents—everyone has a story. As the “holder of the iPad”, I have the privilege of welcoming each family as they arrive. It’s a chance to learn names, hear how their week has been, and get to know their children. The real challenge is remembering names when they return! These moments matter—they remind us that no one is just a name on a list. Our team is committed to building relationships, celebrating milestones, remembering conversations, and supporting families through both joyful and difficult times.
Everything we do at Growbaby West Wilts is just a small part of a much bigger picture. Across the UK, there are over 400 baby banks supporting families in need. With the rising cost of living, more and more families are reaching out, and it is estimated that over 220,000 families have accessed a baby bank in the past year. In Trowbridge, 14.6% of children under 16 live in low-income families. By providing essential items, we can help ease some of that financial pressure.
As a Growbaby, we are also part of a wider network. The first Growbaby launched in Kingston in 2003, and there are now over 50 across the UK, as well as one in Malaysia. Recently, the founders, Peter and Noni, appeared on television sharing their canal journey to Scotland and highlighting the work of Growbaby Kirkcaldy (Channel 4’s Narrow Escapes, airing 10 June).
If you’re wondering how you can support Growbaby, there are many ways to get involved—even if you don’t have donations to give. You can use our Amazon Wishlist, either to purchase items directly or as a guide for your shopping. You can also support us through prayer—for our team, the families we serve, and the connections we are building with local agencies. Please do get in touch if you would like to know more.
