MammaKind
MammaKind is helping young children living in poverty across the South East of London through their baby bank, providing essential resources to help children improve their health and development. We visited their warehouse in Greenwich to see firsthand the work that goes into building these provisions so that the needs of families facing socio-economic barriers are met.
MammaKind’s impact of child development
From children’s clothes, nappies and toiletries, to prams and play mats, MammaKind provides a tailored package of supplies to families, and along with ensuring children are healthy, aims to support the development of young children.
Kirsty Lowe, Chair of MammaKind, explained the change in a recent referral: “A child didn’t have any toys before MammaKind came along, and the referral partners said how they’ve seen the child’s development improve following our support. They became more aligned with their peers who aren’t in living in poverty. That kind of feedback is really important to us.”
This sentiment is reflected in our latest research, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, which explored the impact AI toys can have on young children. The report highlights the belief of early-years practitioners that AI toys can support aspects of children’s development, such as language and communication skills.
The report further shows the importance of services like MammaKind, noting the danger of a growing digital divide of children living in poverty whose families are unable to afford these toys. As such, children living in areas of high deprivation may fall behind without the support and investment from organisations to remove these barriers.
How MammaKind was born
MammaKind was created in 2019 following the birth of Kirsty’s daughter. “When I fell pregnant with my daughter, I started a group for local mums because like many young people in London, I was living in one area and made a lot of my friends through work. They lived across London, and I suddenly realised that I didn’t know anybody locally.
“So, I set up a coffee morning and sent a message to see if anybody wanted to set up a baby bank. Our two other eventual co-founders, Kelly and Katie, said yes, and five months later we were registered as a charity and a fully functioning baby bank delivering referrals.”
Seven years on, MammaKind has grown from strength to strength, streamlining their processes, increasing their capacity and crucially increasing the age range of children they support from birth to five years old.
Quote block :The Childhood Trust is so credible, and as a hyperlocal charity, that holds a lot of weight.”
Ensuring children are healthy in the South East
MammaKind operates across the South East London Boroughs of Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham – and their work has never been more important.
New Households Below Average Income statistics reveal a continuing, deep-rooted poverty crisis in London, with 38% of children living in poverty after housing costs. A quarter of London’s children are living in Deep Poverty, surviving on less than half of the UK’s median income.
MammaKind primarily supports families living in Greenwich and Lewisham, with over a third of children facing socio-economic barriers in each borough, 39% and 37% respectively.
The charity works with their professional network of referral partners, which include children’s centres, midwives, charities, food banks and community referrers to identify those who need help and ensure they receive a tailored package of supplies.
Many of the families MammaKind works with are single-parent households or face barriers such as disability, experiences of violence, or restrictions on accessing public funds. MammaKind provides comfort and peace of mind, removing the immediate stress families face about putting food on the table or where the next nappy is coming from – giving families the chance to think about their next steps.
MammaKind and The Childhood Trust
We fund charities like MammaKind that work directly with local families, helping children and young people in London overcome the challenges of poverty and build brighter futures:
“The Childhood Trust’s funding is important on a number of levels. Being unrestricted gives us breathing space to respond to emerging needs and prioritise the most vulnerable families. Beyond the funding itself, having the backing of such a recognised organisation brings credibility that strengthens our work and opens doors with other supporters. The Childhood Trust is so credible, and as a hyperlocal charity, that holds a lot of weight.”
Aspirations for the future
MammaKind has supported families across the South East amidst a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis. With rising numbers of families in poverty, MammaKind seeks to grow its services, ensuring support for children who might otherwise be overlooked and for children of all ages.