Little Village is a London based charity, with a local branch in Balham, that works like a food bank but for clothes, toys and essential items for babies and children under the age of five. 

With a dream that no child should grow up without what they need for daily life, Little Village enables local families to gift items to other families in the area who are in need.  With a team of more than 150 volunteers, Little Village has helped over 1700 families in need with the value of gifts donated exceeding £880K.

Child poverty is on the rise in London despite being one of the world’s richest cities and it is most prevalent in the inner city communities, such as Balham, where Little Village operates. A movement of people who do not believe that any child should have to live in such conditions, Little Village collects items ranging from baby furniture, buggies and high chairs to clothing, change mats, sterilisers, toys and books.

The Balham location (on Rowfant Road) has a monthly wish list prioritising what is needed at that time which is updated regularly on the Little Village website and on their Twitter feed. Local families most in need are warmly invited to choose the items that they’d like with the support of the fantastic and friendly trained volunteers who are usually parents with small children themselves.  It really is a case of “it takes a village’ with parents helping other parents to give young children the best possible start in life.

👶🏼You’ve helped us gift enough cots, moses baskets and cotbeds to stretch from #Tooting Bec tube to #Balham tube 👶🏼 We’re sharing amazing #LittleVillage facts to celebrate supporting 1000 #Wandsworth families #ThankYou #LittleVillageWandsworth pic.twitter.com/AKgRedwHYY

— Little Village (@LittleVillageHQ) June 21, 2018

Working closely with local referral partners including health visitors, children’s centres, midwives, faith organisations and other charities, Little Village works within the Balham community to offer practical help to financially disadvantaged families. Not only do the donations ease household budget pressures but there is a direct positive impact on maternal health, including postnatal depression, by providing mothers with the inclusiveness of a community, a sense of connection and a boost of confidence.

First launched in Wandsworth in January 2016, Little Village now also operates in Camden and a new Southwark location will be up and running by early 2019. 

To see how you can get involved, either with donations or volunteering, please visit www.littlevillagehq.org for more information. You can also follow Little Village on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.