Hertfordshire midwives Joanna Swanton and Rohan McCarty have always been passionate about parents accessing the resources required to care for their young babies. Having seen many new parents struggle to acquire essentials like cots, nappies, and baby grows, the idea of a community-recycling initiative came to them in 2019. A system whereby the local community discreetly supports others.
From little seeds...
One evening Jo and Rohan put out a call for donations on local Facebook pages. Within a week, Jo’s mum’s spare room in Hitchin was overflowing, and A Lil Something was born.
To date, A Lil Something has redistributed hundreds of baby essentials to new parents in our region. With referrals from local services growing year on year, A Lil Somethingare helping more and more families in Hertfordshire access vital supplies, clothing and equipment.
According to government’s official statistics, around 14.4 million people were living in poverty in the UK in 2021/2022. Around 4.2 million were children. Whilst the overall UK poverty rate has stayed the same over the last 28 years, child poverty rates are especially high in the UK. [Source: Big Issue].
Soon A Lil Something needed more storage space, and local businesses S.J. Thompson Builders, and JD Photo Datakindly stepped in to help. By early 2020, Jo and Rohan had established pop-up events for families in need, inviting them to drop-in and 'shop’ for free from the donated clothing and equipment.
As demand grew, Jo’s sister Ellie and mum Sue stepped in to help. With Ellie and Sue on board, A Lil Something has since become a registered Community Interest Company and begun private fundraising, hosting their first charity quiz night towards the end of last year at The Highlanderin Hitchin.
Now, as a member of North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Centre for Voluntary Services, A Lil Somethingis receiving expert support to strengthen its future. Their next goal is securing a sustainable funding stream to cover the cost of a storage solution better equipped to house donated supplies, and the growing army of volunteers offering to help.
“A Lil Something is a shining example of the power of community-driven solutions. Their ability to mobilise local support and provide essential resources to families in need is truly inspiring. We’re excited to support them in delivering lasting impact on the lives of even more families in Hertfordshire." - North Herts and Stevenage CVS Community Capacity Builder, Andy Nazer.Learn more about A Lil Something CIC on Facebook here, support them by donating via GoFundMe here or their Amazon wishlist here. To donate preloved baby equipment and clothing sized up to 18 months, please contact them by Facebook.
If you’re a local group looking to build your capacity and expand your impact in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage, learn more about how CVS membership can help here.
