For health visitors, midwives, social workers, family hubs, schools, refuges and anyone else working with a family who needs baby or toddler essentials.
Before you refer
- The child is under two, or the mother is pregnant
- The family lives in [DEFINE THE AREA WE COVER]
- The family knows you are referring them and has agreed to it
We ask for the family’s consent because we will hold their details, and because a bag of baby clothes arriving unannounced does not always land well. You know the family. We do not.
What we need from you
- Your name, role, organisation and a contact number or email
- The children’s ages, and clothing sizes if you know them
- What the family needs. Be specific, because it saves us a second trip
- Whether they need nappies, and which size
- Whether the family can collect, or whether we should deliver
- Anything we should know about timing
Please leave out case notes, medical history and safeguarding detail. We do not need any of it, and we would rather not hold it.
What happens next
We confirm to you within [X WORKING DAYS] and tell you what we can supply. We then arrange collection from [COLLECTION POINT] or delivery, whichever suits the family. We deal with you rather than the family direct, unless you ask us to do otherwise.
What we can supply
Clothing and footwear, nappies and toiletries, feeding equipment, bedding, prams and carriers, books and toys, bathing and changing kit, and maternity essentials. Stock depends on what has come in that month, so tell us your priorities and we will work down the list.
What we cannot supply
- Second-hand car seats, cot mattresses, bottles or teats. Where used is not safe, we buy new or we leave it out
- Formula milk. [CONFIRM TRUSTEE POSITION. Most baby banks decline formula, for good reasons]
- Prescribed equipment, medicines, or anything needing a clinical assessment
- Cash
Make a referral
[REFERRAL FORM TO BE ADDED, pending a trustee decision on how referral information is stored and who can see it.]
Until the form goes live, email chair@avonvalleybabybank.org.uk with the information listed above. Please leave the family’s full address out of that first email. We will ask for it once we have confirmed we can help.
Information you send us
We keep referral details for 12 months after our last contact with the family, then delete them. Our privacy notice sets out the detail. If your organisation needs a data sharing agreement before referring, ask and we will sort one out.