Manchester baby bank and vital community charity at risk of closure has launched a huge fundraising campaign to enable it to continue providing children and families around the region with essential items needed during the early stages of motherhood and beyond.
Since 2022, Little Green Sock Project has supported over 1,300 children, redistributing more than £240,000 worth of essential items like clothing, cots, prams, and stair gates to local families, saving 20 tonnes of items from landfill.
But now, the vital community charity supporting disadvantaged children and families across Greater Manchester is at risk of closure with its 5,000 sq ft premises in Stretford Mall scheduled for demolition in 2025. The charity must quickly raise £200,000 to secure a lease on a new premises by January or face shutting down its life-changing services.
“We believe that essentials needed for the health and wellbeing of children should not only be for those that can afford them”, says Catherine D’Albertanson, Founder of Little Green Sock Project. “Our work ensures that no child in our community goes without essentials, but without new premises, we will have no choice but to close.”
Little Green Sock Project is Trafford’s only baby bank, helping families in their moments of greatest need. Of the families it serves, 58% are single-parent households already struggling with the cost of raising children, while 29% are fleeing domestic abuse, often leaving their belongings behind to protect their family.
Little Green Sock Project’s unique role goes beyond providing items; it helps families build stability and resilience while reducing waste through a circular economy model. “We provide a trusted link between the families that have items to give, to those that need them the most.” D’Albertanson adds. “If we lose this charity, we lose a vital safety net for many in our community.”
A parent who has used the service, commented: “It was a truly terrifying time when I was pregnant with my first child, I found myself completely alone, with a baby on the way, wondering how I could possibly provide for my son. Then I found Little Green Sock Project, and everything changed. Everything was carefully chosen, colour-coordinated, and presented in such a thoughtful way. It felt so special—like someone truly cared about me and my baby. That feeling is indescribable, especially for someone in my position.
There are so many people like me with stories like this. It breaks my heart to think that Little Green Sock Project might have to close its doors. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without your help, and I hope with all my heart that the community comes together to keep this lifeline alive.”
The Save Our Baby Bank Campaign
The campaign aims to raise £200,000 to secure a long-term lease, ensuring the charity can continue to provide life-changing support.
How You Can Help:
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Donate: Every pound brings us closer to securing a new home.
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Share Your Networks: Spread the word to help us reach potential partners and donors.
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Corporate Sponsorship: Businesses can sponsor our space and engage in hands-on volunteering days.
“We believe that, with the right support, we can find a solution to continue this essential work,” D’Albertanson says. “Whether it’s offering space, connecting us with potential partners or supporting our campaign financially, any help could make a life-changing difference for the most vulnerable children in our community.”
To donate, please visit the JustGiving page here. Or to find out more visit the website here.