From donations to dignity: the values of the West Norfolk Children's Clothing Bank

For two years the Children’s Clothing Bank, which is based at the Snettisham Salvation Army, has been providing clothes and accessories to families in need.

First approached by Maggie Anderson and her team at Baby Basics West Norfolk after a different organisation folded, the group supplies clothes for children aged 6 months to 5 years, for families that are referred by Health Visitors, Social Workers and other health professionals.

They never meet the families that need help or know their names as it is a completely confidential service. Since opening in 2023, the service has been able to honour 160 referrals.

I visited in late July and climbing the winding staircase to the room above the church, I didn’t expect to see the neat boxes of as-new clothes carefully folded and packed and ready to wear together with racks of coats and jackets.

Reaching the ‘store’ I met Lieutenant Emily Hague –Snettisham Corps and her small team of volunteers as they were fulfilling a referral request.

“We have a request form”, says volunteer Anthea Langford, “this one has been filled in by the Health Visitor and it is for a two-year-old, they tick the boxes for the things that are needed and we put it all together in a large bag which will be collected later on and taken to the family.”

Emily and Anthea are there with Val and David Barlow and they show me the bags that are ready. “Typically we help one family a week”, says Emily, “and it’s a lot of work to do; we’re lucky to have people who come on a Sunday to the service who take donated clothes home to launder, and they bring them back the following Sunday.

“It is so important for us to make sure there is some dignity; everything is clean, perfect and packed with love.

“What we really need now is somebody to help us with the administration and promotion; as far as I know we are the only people operating this service in the West Norfolk and adjoining bit of Cambridgeshire area and we want people to know about us.” (If anyone would like to volunteer, the telephone number is at the end of this article).

Tim Green from the East of England Salvation Army said: “Families with children are being dragged into poverty by rising costs and face barriers to a decent standard of living and our church is finding ways to support families struggling to provide the essentials for their children with dignity and compassion.”

Emily “My own personal drive is based on my officer’s covenant that includes my calling from God: ‘To love and serve him supremely all my days, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloved, and befriend those who have no friends, to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and, by God’s grace, to prove myself a worthy officer.’

1 John 4:19 sums it all up for me, we love because he first loved us.”

The Clothing Bank is asking for clean clothes including bodysuits and sleepsuits, vests, pants, socks, T-shirts, jumpers, skirts, shorts, trousers etc plus waterproof clothes, jackets and coats.

Donations for The West Norfolk Children’s Clothing Bank can be taken to The Salvation Army at Snettisham Co-op, St Mary’s Church, The Salvation Army Community Shop in Hunstanton and Morrison’s Kings Lynn.

The Clothing Bank’s telephone number is: 07774 619460. Email: wnccb@salvationarmy.org.uk