Elizabeth Knowles with Little Village’s Hattie Foxwell-Corden­

VITAL supplies for struggling families are at a critically low level – prompting a Somers Town-based charity to issue an urgent call for help.

Little Village, in Ossulston Street, provides help for children and babies, and the charity has seen requests for cots, shoes and other basics soar, with volunteers hearing heart-breaking stories of parents who skip meals so they can feed and clothe their family.

And with around 850 babies due to be born this summer already referred to the project, they face soaring demands for basic baby products, ranging from baby grows to cots, bottles to nappies.

Manager Elizabeth Knowles told the New Journal Little Village faced an unprecedented demand – and urgently need fresh donations to meet the growing need. She said: “Already we have seen demand this year rise by 50 per cent on 2022 figures. We have hundreds of expectant mums on our list for July and August, all in need of essential items for their babies.

“We are busier than ever with families needing help due to soaring energy, housing and food prices.”

Since opening a branch in Somers Town in 2018, LV have helped more than 7,000 children, run partnerships in more than 50 schools and community groups and had more than 2,000 volunteers donate their time.

They rely on referrals from GPs, midwives, hospitals, social services and other bodies. Service users meet volunteers and create a list of what they need – and then they are invited to choose items from the Village’s shop in the Somers Town Community Association Centre. With an estimated 39 per cent of all children in Camden living below the poverty line – around 16,000 youngsters – the demand is huge.

Currently, the service is critically low on clothing for six- month-old babies and under, Moses baskets and cots, prams, slings, baby carriers and baby toys.

Ms Knowles added: “We carefully look at each family’s needs, going through a check list. “Some people who come need everything. They might be having their first baby and may not know what they will require. Many of our volunteers are mothers and bring that experience with them.”

Each family can be referred back to the service after three months – allowing the Village to help as a child’s needs change and grow. Ms Knowles said: “We have space for around 13 appointments every day, and the demand is higher – it can be providing help for 70 children every week. Child poverty rates have shot up and we know families are having to choose between food and nappies. We hear stark choices like this every day.”

The charity is calling on New Journal readers to donate any items suitable for children – including clothing, cots, toys, shoes, nappies and other essentials.

Ms Knowles said: “We are a critical level of supplies, and have 850 newborns arriving in the next two months. Our boxes are empty. Without an increase in donations, we will have to tell families that we are unable to provide cots for their babies, that we don’t have enough sleep suits to keep them cosy.”

And the charity, established in 2017, faces further challenges.

From September their base is being repurposed – leaving them in search of a new home.

Ms Knowles is searching for a new venue, with good transport links, space for deliveries and easily accessible. They are hoping a benefactor will step forward and offer them an empty office, shop or warehouse in Camden.

She added: “We have had an amazing time working with the Association but we fully understand the need for them to use the space for their youth and community programme – which is what STCA want to focus on from September.” l Information on how to donate your preloved equipment, cash or your time to Little Village can be found at www.little