A few words from our Chair, Olivia Gillan

After eight years on the Little Village board, including my time as Chair for six years, I’ve been reflecting on what an extraordinary journey it has been – and why now feels like the right moment to hand over the baton to someone new.

I joined Little Village in 2018, when the organisation was already doing vital work supporting families with babies and young children across London. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching it grow into something truly remarkable. Together, we’ve built an outstanding staff team, opened several new baby bank hubs, and learned how to operate effectively from a central warehouse model.

We’ve also expanded our signposting and guidance offer, ensuring families receive not just essential items, but also the further support and information they need. Alongside this, Little Village has played a role in helping to establish the Baby Bank Alliance, strengthening the wider ecosystem of support for families across the UK.

While I’m proud of these milestones, what has made the experience truly special is the people. Our Chief Executive, Sophie and her senior leadership team are exceptional – passionate, driven, and constantly innovating to meet the needs of families. The board, too, has been a source of inspiration: a group of highly motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds, bringing a rich mix of skills from both the private and charity sectors. It’s this collective energy and commitment that makes Little Village such a unique and rewarding organisation to be part of.

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Like many charities, we’ve had to carefully balance our ambition with our capacity. The need for our services continues to grow, and we are always striving to do more. However, the fundraising environment remains tough, which means we can’t always expand as quickly as we would like or indeed, as the need would demand. Navigating this tension has been one of the more demanding aspects of the role – but also one of the most important.

As I step down, I’m excited to see what the next Chair will bring. Little Village is a brilliant concept at its core: supporting children living in poverty, promoting sustainability through the reuse of baby goods, and fostering a sense of community and solidarity. As Chair, you have the opportunity to help shape the organisation’s future, enabling it to reach more families and ensure more children get the start in life they deserve.

It’s also, quite simply, a really enjoyable role. You’ll work alongside a talented and committed team, learn a huge amount, and be part of something that has a tangible and lasting impact on people’s lives.

Find out more about the role here.