Baby Basics Belfast
Baby Basics Belfast started in 2017, and is based in the Greater Shankill area of Belfast. Currently, we are in St Columba’s Church on the Ballygomartin Road, opposite Springhill Primary School.
We receive referrals from a wide variety of agencies including NHS, Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, Surestart centres, charities and government agencies. We complete on average 45 packs a month. Each pack is full of toiletries, nappies, clothing and everything you would need for a new-born, or in some cases a slightly older child. It can be in a Moses basket, a baby bath or a laundry basket depending on the needs of the family being referred.
About Us
We are a team of three, Heather Gibson (Baby Basics Belfast Co-ordinator), Karen Webb (Church Army Evangelist and N Ireland Hub Leader) and Susan Hamilton (Long term Volunteer) with several other keen volunteers who assist in so many ways – Joan Agnew (Karen’s 90 year old mum), Jacqui McCord, Ste Fitzgerald, Isaac Castle to name but a few.
We meet at our base on Mondays and Wednesdays each week between 10am and 3pm. During this time we are open for donations, deliveries and collection of packs. However, we can facilitate other times by arrangement.
Meet the Team
Connect
Get Help
We are here to support and help anyone in need with a child under the age of 5 years. Anyone may apply for a pack, but it must be done with one of our referral forms which can only be filled in by a health professional or support worker.
Families
We understand that families in crisis may need further help, and therefore we are happy to receive further referrals for a family as and when they need it. If you know someone in need, or you are in need, then please contact your health visitor, social worker or care worker, giving them our contact details, so they can refer you to our service. We will aim to prepare your pack as quickly as required.
Telephone referral
Baby Basics Belfast mobile: 07545207480
Karen Webb Mobile: 07803272628
Give Help
See latest donation list
Donating secondhand items
We are happy to receive donations of the following:
- Good quality, clean second-hand clothing up to age 5 years.
- Good quality, clean baby equipment.
- Prams and Buggies- but NO CAR SEATS.
- Moses baskets – new or second-hand.
- Knitted clothing and blankets.
- Toys and books.
Donating new items
We are always happy to receive new items and particularly toiletries for both mum and baby. We accept the following:
- Nappies (all sizes)
- Baby Wipes
- Nappy cream
- Baby wash and shampoo
- Nappy sacks
- Baby feeding equipment – NO FOOD or MILK please.
- Shampoo and Conditioner for mum
- Shower gel for mum (& dad)
- Hand cream/face cream
- Soap
- Deodorant
Donating financially
Regular or one-off
This country is facing a huge cost of living crisis, with many families struggling to keep up with even the basic needs of a growing family. We are delighted to help, but we can’t do it without donations.
Donating items is great, but there is always a cost. Every second-hand Moses basket we receive, we have to buy a new mattress for. This costs money.
We regularly run out of toiletries, and so we have to buy them – this costs money.
If you would like to support us, but can’t give donations of items and you don’t knit, then please do make a cash donation. We are happy to receive anything you can afford, every £ makes a difference to the families we support.
Please email for more information: babybasics@connordiocese.org or karen.webb@churcharmy.org
How can you get involved?
If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. We meet on Monday and Wednesday at our base, between 10am and 3pm. We have lots of fun and chat as we sort clothing, toiletries and other donations received, and make up packs which have been requested.
