Wish list
Donate £

Referrals

family support worker

Need our service from further afield?

If you are a professional supporting families outside of Surrey and Croydon, please take a look at the map above. There are over 300 baby banks across the UK and one of them may be able to help you.

If you support families who are vulnerable or experiencing hardship in Surrey or Croydon you can make a referral to us on their behalf

We supply a mixture of new/good condition pre-loved baby/children’s items – clothing, toys, equipment, toiletries – from birth up to age 18. Stripey Stork operate on a referrals only basis, which means families can’t self-refer. We accept referrals from a wide range of organisations – food banks, schools, citizen advice, housing associations, family centres, GP’s and health services, children’s services, domestic abuse support services, the police and any other professional supporting families. 

Our service is free of charge and there is no assessment criteria.  Requested items will need to be collected from our offices in Reigate by the referral partner or contact us about delivery.

We are always quick to respond to the referrals we receive as we know all too well the urgency behind these requests – we can usually respond in 48 hours.

If you are a family needing support, please reach out to a professional who can submit a request on your behalf. Full details are here. 

We have now opened a second site in Redhill where we will be running our School Days project from. The cost of providing school uniform, shoes and other essentials necessary for school puts a huge strain on finances, so we have been stocking up to meet demand.  Visit our support for school children page on our website for full detail son what items we can help with. The referral process remains the same but collection of these items will be from Raven House, Linkfield Lane, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1SS.

Here's how to make a referral

1 You should use the online form here to make any referral request.  You will need the following information:

  • Age/gender of each child (indicating if a different clothes size is required).
  • Any known interests for each child so we can customise the bundle accordingly.
  • The borough/postcode of the family.
  • The reason for the referral.
  • If the request is urgent/when the items are needed by.

2 You will receive a confirmation email once you have booked a collection slot.  We  will secondly, arrange a date/time for you to collect your items. 

All referral requests that do not include school uniform will continue to be collected from our Reigate warehouse (term time only, between Monday to Thursday, 9:30am-1:30pm). Our storage space is limited so we appreciate arranging prompt collections. Please allow plenty of time to be shown how to assemble and operate the larger items, such as cots and prams.

School uniform referrals will be collected, by appointment, from Raven House, Linkfield Lane, Redhill, RH1 1SS.

3 Professionals supporting families can join our Referrals mailing list and Referrals Facebook group to keep up-to-date with available items, referral news and, additionally, how our campaigns can help the families you support.

Referral form
Contact us about a referral
Sign up to our referral mailing list
Join our referral Facebook group
Items we provide
families helped so far this year
0
families helped since opening in 2013
0

A rule which we live by at Stripey Stork is that our recipients should feel like they are receiving a gift and not a hand out. Therefore all of the pre-loved items we re-distribute are clean, stain-free and in good working order.

As well as our day-to-day operations, we are specifically well-placed in our community to undertake special projects as the need arises. Read our lastest blogs on: Mother’s Day gifts, school uniform requests and Christmas presents.

Essentials for babies & children

Our warehouse is well-stocked with new and pre-loved items, so we are able to provide all of the essentials needed for babies and children. For a list of the items we stock (and don’t), please refer to the below list. There may be a waiting list for some of the larger, more popular items, such as prams.
Items generally stocked

New baby packs for expectant mums

We can also provide beautifully packaged new baby packs for the expectant Mums on your caseload. Whenever possible, we also like to include some ‘pick-me-up’ items for the parents/carers - if you feel they would really benefit from one of these, please let us know.
Contact us about new baby packs

School items

We understand that buying school items for children can be a costly overhead for parents who are already struggling. This is why we provide a wide range of items so children can be school ready.
School Days
Stripey with a santa hat sitting in the Stripey Stork Christmas Tree

Christmas campaign - Santa Stork

Our Christmas giving campaign distributes thousands of new gifts to children, giving local families in need the Christmas they deserve. It's always an amazing community effort.

Mother's Day campaign - A Gift For Mum

Every year we ask our supporters to donate new pampering gifts sets, which our referral partners can request for Mums that they feel could do with a little boost or some recognition on Mother’s Day.

"What comes out of that warehouse is far more than practical - it's the glue that holds communities together. The message that says - you matter and we'll help you get back on your feet."
Lena AbduFirst Community Health & Care
"Not only does it provide family with all the essentials they need, but it also provides them with the knowledge that people care! It also really helps us develop a relationship with the families that we are working with, helping to breakdown the barrier between a family and Surrey Children's Services."
Referral partner
"To be able to offer quality clothes and toys to our families who are living in poverty is so helpful, and they really do appreciate it. The quality is always amazing, and it can have such a positive impact to children and their families to have toys to play with, books to read and clothes to wear. To have such a fantastic resource on our doorstep is so beneficial, and very much appreciated. It does make a real difference."
Referral partner
"Thank you, your unfailing helpfulness makes giving with Stripey Stork one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. You should never underestimate the difference you make to the lives of so many people."
Referral partner
"In Children's Services, Stripey Stork have been invaluable - going above and beyond to help and support our families. It has made families feel like they matter and that there is hope, especially when they have had to flee domestic abuse."
Referral partner
"I just wanted to say thank you again for the items I collected this morning, so much appreciated. It's not what you give but also how you give. Beautiful!"
Referral partner
"The family the double buggy went to have a very limited income and the Mum has post-natal depression. Before they received the buggy Mum couldn’t leave the house with both children (2-year old and a baby) and could only do so if another family member was around to stay at home with one of them. Receiving the new double buggy has changed this dramatically for her and the children who are now able to go out and enjoy the park together and go for long walks. It really has been a life changer and has really helped with Mum's post-natal depression."
Referral partner
"Mum is at home with a disability due to being in a coma from Covid when she was pregnant. Her partner had left and she had no family support, furniture or things for her child. Stripey Stork was brilliant in giving her clothes, bedding, a table and chairs, and a toddler bed with a new mattress. She was so happy to receive the donation that she cried with relief. She had been feeling like a bad Mum because she was unable to provide for her child."
Referral partner
"A lonely Mum was so clearly uplifted by receiving clothes and toys for her children. There were even some little gifts for her included. It's hard to put into words what a difference this makes. She was happy seeing her children happy, but I think it made her feel better because it showed that people care about her too."
Referral partner
"I have had families contact me who are too emabarrassed to say they need items, but once they see what Stripey Stork can give them they are amazed. It means that families feel they are giving their children 'new' items and they are excited to receive the packs."
Referral partnerMary from The Westway
"Parents feel grateful to be able to provide for their children and the pressure to provide these things makes such a difference. Stripey Stork is so easy to access, the donations are well cared for and great quality. I love how much attention goes into sorting the packages, so they do not feel like second hand items."
Hailey AntonioCroydon Council

Signposting other support services

Sometimes the requests we receive go beyond the remit of our resources and capabilities, so here’s a useful list of other support services.

Individual funding requests:

  • Buttle UK offers small grants for families/children falling into specific categories (usually in care or having fled domestic abuse).
  • It’s also worth taking a look at the Turn2Us website, which provides links to all the small grant making organisations locally (searchable by postcode). 
  • The Reigate & Banstead Mayor’s Trust Fund assists the Borough’s less fortunate residents by providing support to help make a small difference in their lives. Small disbursements of usually around £50 (but up to a maximum of £750) are made to successful applicants.
  • The Surrey Crisis Fund is a discretionary fund run by Surrey County Council and provides financial help to Surrey residents who have nowhere else to turn during an emergency or following a disaster. It also can provide assistance to set up a home in the community where no other funds or resources are available. No specific deadlines.  Apply 9-5pm Monday to Thursday.

  Other services:

  • Local food banks such as Loveworks and St Matthew’s Church food bank, and The Trussell Trust national food banks network.
  • The District and Borough Council websites for information on financial and welfare support services available.
  • Local Citizens Advice Bureaus provide in person, online and telephone advice on issues such as debt management, benefits, housing, immigration and landlord-tenant disputes.
  • Furnistore based in Merstham, provides recycled furniture at very affordable prices. If proof of means tested benefits can be provided, then they offer a 50% discount on essential items.  They are also welcome to a discussion if circumstances mean essential items are still unaffordable.
  • Reuse network is a useful secondhand furniture network, where you can search by item and area.
  • If we are located too far for you to collect, please consult our other UK baby banks map to see if there is a similar service closer to you.
More cost of living resources

We feel privileged to have helped many thousands of families to get back on their feet. See for yourself the impact of some of our Stork Stories.

A bundle of baby clothing and equipment for a visually impaired mum

The Power of Colour

I am so happy today. I am very grateful for all the kindness that people have shown me…. we are off to a good start. Pregnancy should be a time for excited anticipation but for Mary* the anxiety she felt

Read this story »

Join the Stripey Stork mailing list

Stripey Stork - Family Support. Recycled

51a Albert Road North
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 9EL

Registered as a charity in England and Wales 1161613

proud-recipient-queens-award
Lottery-digital-white-background

Site Links

What we do
Donate Items
Donate Funds
Donate Time
Corporate Volunteering
Latest News
Contact us

Our Policies

Stripey Stork Privacy Policy
Stripey Stork Cookies Policy
Stripey Stork T&Cs of Sale
Stripey Stork Referral Policy
Stripey Stork Safeguarding Policy
Stripey Stork Complaints Procedure

Other Baby Banks

Our focus is the Surrey region and bordering areas. If you are in a different region, see map of UK baby banks to find one near you.

Other UK Baby Banks
BBA-Membership_badge-Sticker
Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in

website by oh creative ltd