Making South London a 'Better' place at Mammakind
This week, managers from ‘Better’ leisure centres across Lewisham gave up their time to volunteer at 'Mammakind' at the local Salvation Army.
MammaKind is a baby bank providing clothes, toys, baby equipment, essential hygiene items and baby food to families in poverty in the south-east London boroughs of Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.
The organisation aims to remove the immediate fear about where the next nappy is coming from.
The majority of the families supported by the charity are headed by single mothers and many face additional disadvantages such as disability or experience of violence, and have no recourse to public funds. They are referred to the service by children’s centres, midwives, charities and food banks.
The team from Better helped out with a variety of tasks - they sorted donated, brand new school uniforms, took in donations from the public, reorganised a store cupboard and loaded a transit van.
Mammakind have also donated swimming costumes to Peabody Housing Association for their holiday swimming sessions at Glass Mill Leisure Centre.
Leisure centres in Lewisham are run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. Supporting the wellbeing of local communities is an important part of the organisation’s ethos.
"We were more than happy to help out at this fantastic charity," GLL’s Community Sports Manager, Matthew Houghton comments. "Volunteering there is in line with GLL's Values.”