Stripey Stork Referral Policy

This policy is designed to ensure the quality and transparency of our work through the following: 

• Ensuring we can support as many families as possible with meaningful high-quality gifted items that alleviate hardship, across Surrey and beyond.
• Ensuring that we remain sensitive to the situations of families and children we help, without judgement.
• Ensuring that we build lasting relationships with referral partners across Surrey and beyond.
• Ensuring that the items donated to us are used to best effect, and meet their intended purpose of supporting those in hardship.

• Families are referred to us by professionals. This helps us to better understand the needs of recipient families and to provide the most appropriate and targeted support.
• We do not accept self-referrals from families. If families approach us directly, we will offer them guidance on getting a referral from an appropriate service.
• There is no set referral criteria at Stripey Stork. We will support any family facing hardship who our referral partners believe would benefit from our support.
• We ask for the minimum of family information from referral partners – only what we need to know in order to provide appropriate items, and assess the impact of our work.
• There is no limit on the number of times a family can be referred to our service, however, we do expect partners to exercise discretion around where our help is most needed.

• Referrals can come from a variety of partner organisations, including schools, health visitors, social workers, family centres, women’s shelters, churches and foodbanks – any professional organisation or group supporting families that are vulnerable or experiencing hardship.
• We are happy to accept referrals from any professional, but you must have a work email address, and you may be asked to show a work I.D, or an email from us, when you collect.
• We will ask referral partners to collect items from our warehouses in Reigate or Redhill, or we will deliver items to partners for them to pass on to families.
• We will not deliver directly to residential addresses, or to families referred.
• We can accept referrals from across Surrey, Croydon and beyond, but our delivery service does not extend beyond Surrey and Croydon.

• Family Essentials – We can provide everything families need for a new baby, or clothes, shoes, toiletries, books, toys and other equipment for older babies and children up to the age of 18. This could include beds and bedding, buggies, highchairs and weaning packs, bouncers, playmats, coats and school shoes, etc.
• Think Beyond The Basics – We can provide pre-filled pre-school and school bags, school uniform (non-logoed), stationery, activities and games, We also provide filled maternity and hospital bags, and the occasional birthday present or treat for a child, parent or carer going through a difficult time. At certain times of the year we run projects and campaigns to support families in different ways – including Santa Stork, our large-scale Christmas gift-giving campaign, and A Gift For Mum, giving Mother’s Day gifts to those who may not otherwise get one.
• Stock Requests – If you represent an organisation working with families directly, we can provide supplies for you to keep on site or to distribute to families over time. We can also help with toys for playgroups and preschools.
• Special Requests – We will always try to fulfil special requests, so please do ask us for anything not mentioned above. If we don’t have it, we may be able to source it through our network of supporters and partner organisations.

• 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.
• Every referral is important to us, and we will treat every family’s situation as unique, and be sensitive and discreet.
• We train and develop our team to maintain an understanding of the hardships facing families and the challenges facing frontline support services.

We ensure that all equipment given out by us meets current safety standards, is clean, safety-checked and given out with a manual or instructions. Where appropriate, we will make sure that items meet a relevant British / European safety standard.

• Electrical items are PAT tested.
• Toys have brand new batteries.
• Buggies, prams, cots, cribs and slings will always come with appropriate safety instructions / manuals.
• We do not give out preloved mattresses, bottles or breast pumps. These items will always be provided brand new.
• While we will do everything reasonable and practical to ensure the safety and quality of donated items, we cannot guarantee the length of life or suitability of every product for every situation.
• It is the referral partner’s responsibility to ensure that the items given to the families are safe and appropriate for the intended use

• We will do our best to respond at an appropriately prompt pace for the requests we receive.
• For urgent requests, we will usually be able to respond within one working day, or same-day.
• For other requests, most items will be available within 2-3 working days.
• Some items that are in high demand may be subject to a waiting list.
• Where possible, we will advise you in advance that an item you have requested is not available – although with shorter timescales this is not always possible.
• Waiting lists are monitored and we prioritise urgent situations where necessary.

For health and safety reasons, we do not provide the following items:

• Cot Bumpers
• Baby Sleep Nests, pods, or similar sleep supports
• Bumbo Seats
• Car Seats – we are unable to guarantee the safety of preloved car seats and cannot provide them.
• Formula and Food – we do not keep stock of perishable items.
• Hand-knitted toys and hand-knitted clothing with buttons.