A FAMILY support charity that helps people across Tameside is to take over one of the area’s largest ‘baby banks’ and save it from closure.
Cascade Baby Bundles, which was set up in 2014, has been supporting families right across Greater Manchester by providing new and pre-loved clothing and essential items to babies and children up to 10-years-old.
But it faced shutting the doors of its base on Talbot Road in Hyde’s Newton area because of personal reasons and family commitments for founder Lynne McMylor, who is stepping down.
However, Home-Start HOST has come to the rescue and taken the cause under its wing, meaning its work can continue.
Chief executive Sarah Cook said: “We use Cascade regularly at Home-Start and it’s been an immense source of help for many of our families.
“We also know how much the service is used by our colleagues from Health Visiting and Social Care, so when we heard it was facing closure we just had to try and do something.
“Lynne has been a real inspiration and has taken Cascade from a small service running from her home to one that now provides for families across Greater Manchester, she’s a real community hero!
“It’s a privilege to take on Cascade and we aim to maintain the high standard of service offered under Lynne’s leadership.
“She should be really proud of what she’s achieved.”
Cascade Baby Bundles – which is based at Newton Business Park – takes in donations of quality used baby and children’s clothing and equipment such as highchairs and cots, distributing them to families in need.
It also fundraises for items that cannot be given second-hand, such as socks, underwear, nappies, toiletries and mattresses.
In the last year alone, more than 1,100 children have been supported with almost 48,000 items as three families found themselves needing to use the service after losing their homes in house fires.
Now because of the cost of living crisis, more families than ever are turning towards the charity for support.
One mum who has received items from Cascade, said: “Home-Start have helped me with getting hold of uniforms, shoes and baby items from Cascade and it has helped us greatly financially, and was appreciated by us all, thank you.”
Lynne added: “When I set up Cascade back in 2014 after watching a Channel 4 TV Documentary on child poverty, we never envisaged how big or how needed it would become.
“From the living room of our home to more than 4,000 sq ft in our current units. I may have initiated our journey and I may be steering the ship, but none of it would be possible without our crew of fantastic volunteers who are dedicated to the roles they perform, in order to provide the very best that we can for some of the most vulnerable families in our community.
“The fact that we are needed at all is a reflection on how widespread poverty is, not only in our community but seemingly across the UK as more and more baby banks are opening in their attempt to fill the gap and provide items needed to help a child develop and meet their age-appropriate milestones alongside their peers.”
Home-Start HOST has plans to expand the service as it is recognised that 2023 will see a huge increase in referrals.
A new Warehouse Manager has been recruited and now it is looking for local people who can spare time to volunteer at the Baby Bank in Hyde.
Duties will include taking in donations, organising stock and creating baby bundles of vital items.
Home-Start is also looking for good quality donations, including baby clothes, nappies (still in original sealed packaging), milk, toys, books, cots and prams.
It has also set up a Just Giving page for people to make donations to Cascade. All donations will go directly towards essential items for babies and young children.
Please follow the link to donate https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cascadeappeal