Press Release: Little Village comes home to Tooting

22nd April 2022

Local baby bank charity, Little Village, is set to open its new south London headquarters in Tooting, which is where the charity was originally set up over six years ago.

Little Village will be based at the former Al Murad tile shop at 144 Tooting High Street in Tooting Broadway.

Over the last two years Little Village Wandsworth has been temporarily based in a warehouse in Clapham. The Tooting space will become its new permanent home in south London. The charity now needs to recruit local volunteers to pack essential items for families, as well as meeting and greeting families when they visit the site.

Little Village has never been busier and helped over 6000 under the age of five last year. It expects 2022 to be its busiest year yet, with thousands of families feeling the financial impact of COVID-19, rising living costs and a cut to the temporary uplift to the Universal Credit benefit.

The charity supports on average 60 families a week from its south London base. .

Rebecca Wilson, Little Village’s Head of Programmes, said:

“We’re so pleased to be able to return to our roots here in the heart of Tooting. Little Village was set up six years ago in a colleague’s front room, we’ve come so far since then and are really excited to have this great space to operate from.

“We now have enough space to be able to invite some of the families we support in to choose the items they need for their children. The space has been set up like a shop, families will be able to browse donated items and choose the ones they like. We believe that allowing families choice gives them a sense of dignity and respect – we’re definitely not about handouts.

“If you’d like to join our friendly group of volunteers, please do get in touch. And if you’ve got items of clothing or equipment suitable for 0 to five year olds, please check our current wish list for the items we need and book a donation slot.”

Little Village will continue to use the warehouse at St Mark’s Church on Rowfant Road in Balham as well as to receive and sort donations and to pack up items for families who are unable to visit us in person.

Ends

Notes to editors

Sign up to find out more about volunteering here: littlevillagehq.org/volunteer-with-us

Donate items to Tooting

Sign up to donate items to *Tooting* here.

Donate items to St Mark’s Church, Balham

You can donate baby items and clothing to St Mark’s church in Balham on Monday evenings 7-9pm.

There will also be donation slots available on Thursday mornings.

Sign up to donate items to *Balham* here.

If you need support from Little Village, please ask a professional to refer you using this form: littlevillagehq.org/make-a-referral