Free baby clothes scheme to support parents facing hardship

It's not easy out there for families living through the cost-of-living crisis - and that's why a new scheme in County Tyrone is offering free baby clothes in a bid to support people facing hardship.

The project in Strabane, funded by the Department for Communities, will be available to any family with children up to five years old.

It will also support people with nappies, baby and family toiletries for a nominal fee, but that can be waived in certain circumstances.

Karen Brown, a health visitor with the Western Trust, said the HiVe Baby Hub and free clothing exchange aims to support families in "one of the most socio-economically deprived areas in the entire UK".

The project, which involves the Western Trust, the GP Federation and a local community project, will operate from the Grass Roots Centre on John Wesley Street.

Families can be referred to the service through their health visitor, family nurse and social workers or even call into the centre themselves.

The project also aims to reduce the environmental impact of clothing waste through recycling.

Ms Brown, who came up with the idea, said she sees first-hand the needs of parents locally.

"The cost-of-living crisis has hit an awful lot of families hard, so this is a great initiative where we can help.

"Families who have that wee bit extra can also donate if they like."

To support struggling families, the project already operates a wellness café and a social supermarket where people can purchase groceries at a discounted price if they are part of the membership scheme.

It also offers help with a range of services from money management to learning how to cook and grow your own vegetables.

Ms Brown said that as well as offering a free clothing exchange, it's also a hygiene hub, which can "help with baby toiletries, nappies and anything really that a parent is going to need to look after their child".

Ursula Doherty, from the Strabane Community Project, said people are struggling to meet the cost of baby hygiene products and clothes, and the exchange was a great initiative because it focuses on re-using and recycling.

"We do live in a very throw-away society, so it's a great project in order to take it from landfill," she said.

She added that people are going through real hardship.

"More and more families are finding it hard to make ends meet - food, fuel and even baby items.

"That's right across the board. That's people who are working and people who are on benefits. Everybody.

"In an ironic way it has equalised us all because everybody is suffering, so it's always about looking at new initiatives."

Derry and Strabane Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris said it was an amazing initiative.

"They have things like the clothes exchange, which is taking things out of landfill and putting them back into the community for re-use.

"In the Baby Hub, young families can avail of nappies and hygiene products.

"Everything you need to take care of your child. And also hygiene products for the mammy as well, so I think that's really important.

"It's amazing to see the good work that they're doing here."