A BLOOMING Malvern clothes library welcomed its 300th mum and bump along to borrow the latest in maternity fashion.
The Malvern Maternity Clothes Library, based in Malvern Wells, was set up twelve years ago by local NCT breastfeeding counsellor Frances Thurlow.
Run from Frances’ home, a visit to the library costs £5 and £1 to hire each item of clothing for as long as a mum to be need it.
Clothes can be tried on in the comfort of her home and youngsters are welcome along with their mums.
The funds raised by the library go towards the running costs of local NCT ‘Baby Latte’ breastfeeding support groups and also to support breastfeeding mums.
In the last year alone 265 families have received invaluable free breastfeeding support through the NCT Malvern Hills Branch breastfeeding support groups.
In addition to the library’s proceeds supporting a good cause, the scheme saves the earth’s resources by reusing clothes locally.
Frances said the idea of a maternity clothes library was born at a coffee morning in Malvern.
“I wanted to raise funds to support breastfeeding in our community, so we came up with the idea of a maternity clothes lending service,” she said.
“Instead of rifling through a bin bag of hand-me downs from a neighbour who was two sizes smaller, how about pooling our maternity clothes in one place where you could get a good selection as well as the right size?
“We all agreed and everyone started passing their bin bags in my direction.”
Mum to be Claire Taylor was the 300th visitor and was delighted to go away with arms full of clothes to dress her growing bump in at very little cost.
Claire and her partner Mike will also be attending the NCT antenatal classes later this summer to prepare for the birth and life as new parents.
The clothes library is open to all and supports the Malvern Hills branch of the NCT but is not run by it.
Anyone who would like to borrow clothes from the library is asked to call Frances on 01684 561485 or e-mail [email protected] to arrange a suitable date and time to visit.
E-mail [email protected] or search for Malvern Hills NCT on Facebook and Twitter for more information about group.
