Community kindness still changes lives, says Joanne Platt, who offers struggling families a lifeline from her packed garage in Gillingham
Image: Rachael Rowe
All the bills have come in at once … your hours have been cut at work … the washing machine breaks just as the heating bill lands. Everyone is watching their spending right now, but for some families it takes just one small thing to trigger a financial crisis. Tucked away on a quiet street in Gillingham, one small garage has become a lifeline for parents caught in that moment. BabyBank Gillingham – a community-run service offering clothes, baby food, nappies and other essentials to local families. And behind it all is just one person – Joanne Platt.
‘It started around two and a half years ago. An item on the news about BabyBank Alliance got my attention. People were donating things up and down the country. I contacted them, and they said at that time there was nothing available between Bath and Bournemouth: a huge area. I thought, why can’t I just do something? So I put a simple post on Facebook, saying that I was thinking of collecting items.
Within days, the messages began. Clothes, toys, cots, baby food – it all poured in.
‘I’d collected for Ukraine before, but this was different,’ she says. ‘I’ve now helped hundreds of families. And the amount of things that people donate continues to surprise me. Sometimes I message people back and ask if it’s OK, as they have donated so much: they always respond “Yes, we love what you do”.
’I think some people put things in the loft and keep putting things in the loft. Then one day they’ll think – I need to sort that out. Because it’s in the loft you can’t see it – so it ends up as years worth of stuff.’
Shelves of kindness
Joanne’s garage is neatly stacked with donations for children from newborn to ten years old: piles of clothes, nappy packs, toothbrushes, picture books, and the odd pushchair or baby walker. Everything is impeccably clean. Unsurprisingly, there is also a fast turnover of items. Nothing stays for long. ‘The most popular things are clothes for toddlers – they grow so fast – and wellies,’ she says. ‘You can tell we’re in North Dorset!’
BabyBank works by people simply messaging Joanne through Facebook. A new mum might need items for a six month old, while another mum is looking to replace a winter coat. Joanne then sets items aside and arranges times for collection.
Health visitors and midwives also refer families to Joanne, and the food bank shares baby supplies with her.
‘I see grandparents, foster families … families right across the board. I get people from Blandford, Yeovil, all the outlying villages. The furthest someone has travelled is from Corfe Castle.
‘It’s for anyone who needs it. There’s no judgement. Sometimes – I know from my own experience – some months, everything comes in at once and you think “Um … I’m a bit stuck”. I do just offer things to people when they come round. A lot of people have now become friends, and I love seeing the children grow up.
‘I think some people are a little bit nervous asking for help – which is a shame. Especially young people. I don’t judge.
‘I do try not to have people here at the same time, so they can get to know me. Some people don’t want to talk much and I have to ask them what they need. Some just take stuff, say thank you and go. But next time they come they are more relaxed. You’re coming to someone’s house, after all. I just want people to feel welcome.’
Paying it forward
Her 24-year-old son, who has disabilities, often helps her sort donations. ‘It’s a good way of recycling too, which many are conscious of now. So many people get bought so much clothing for babies – they just don’t get through it all. And if you’re in need, even the cheap supermarkets aren’t that cheap any more.’
One story sticks out in Joanne’s memory: ‘Not long after I started, a lady messaged me and said she had some donations. When she pulled up with a car full, she said: “We don’t need anything – but our Mum would have loved you.” The family obviously remembered what it was like when they were growing up, and had decided that wherever they went in life they would always give back. They dropped off some beautiful things, but it was her words that stuck with me. If someone does something nice for you, then you return the favour – pay it forward.
‘The kindness and generosity of people is there. Sometimes it can feel like it is missing these days, but it isn’t.’
In the run-up to Christmas, Joanne’s work only grows.
‘People often ask what they can donate – nappies, wipes and toothbrushes are always needed. If I put a video on Facebook I’ll get 3,000 views, and people can pick what they want from it. I started putting out winter coats in June because I realised people were looking forward and thinking about what they would need in the colder months.
‘This is something I really enjoy doing. And for the foodbank to give me so much … that helps so much, it’s wonderful.’
For now, the garage remains the perfect base. ‘If I had a commercial unit, it’d mean travelling and more expense,’ Joanne says. ‘Here, it’s easy. I can just get on with it.’
One day Joanne would like to make BabyBank Gillingham a registered charity – but she realises there’s a lot of work involved in setting it up. Instead, she’s focused on keeping the garage shelves stocked – and responding to the next message from a family in need.
