A CHARITY which provides baby items to families in need has been awarded a "game changing" £45,000 grant.

KidsBank Chester, set up in 2019 in response to rising child poverty in the area, will use the funds to double its storage capacity.

The grant has been awarded by the Chester Bluecoat Charity, one of the oldest in the city, to the tune of £15,000 per year for three years.

KidsBank Chester has outgrown its current premises at The Studio, Northgate Church, Chester, seeing its referral numbers double since January 2020.

Founder Cathy Pettingale said: “The generous grant from The Chester Bluecoat Charity means we can double our storage capacity and therefore increase the reach of our services.

"We can also add extra services, such as a school uniform facility and maternity wear.

“In the last year our referrals have doubled, with many of these families having one or more children in need of our help. As you can imagine, the Covid-19 pandemic is making the situation much, much worse for many families.

“We’ve never received funding like this before, so this £45,000 grant is a game-changer for our charity and the families we serve.”

KidsBank Chester, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, operates in a similar way to a food bank.

It relies on donations from the community, and the time of its volunteers, to allow it to provide vulnerable families with baby items, clothes and toiletries for their children aged 0-5 years.

Cathy added: “Over the last year, the demand for us to assist older children (aged 6-12 years) has increased, and thanks to this funding, we can increase our age range.

"We know that by providing parents with the resources to build a positive relationship with their children, we can make a real difference to a child’s development, mental health and overall happiness.”

The Chester Bluecoat Charity – previously known as Chester Municipal Charities – owns and is based at the historic Grade II*-listed Bluecoat building, a hub for charities and voluntary organisations in Upper Northgate Street, Chester.

Neil Davies, Chairman of The Chester Bluecoat Charity, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support KidsBank Chester in their mission to help more struggling families in the city and surrounding area. We’re fully behind their belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life.

"This £45,000 grant fits in with our current focus of supporting organisations that work with children and young people. This is especially important now and in the coming months because so many have had their lives disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.”