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Horley Town Council Awards Grant to Stripey Stork

Stripey Stork, a well-established baby bank that has been serving Surrey families since 2013, has received a £1,000 grant to help expand its vital services. The charity, which provides essential items to families in need, is set to use the funds to enhance its operational capacity, particularly benefiting families in the Horley area.

Stripey Stork currently helps around 200 families per week, distributing items worth approximately £800,000 annually to children aged 0-16 years. With the cost-of-living crisis hitting vulnerable families the hardest, the demand for its services has surged. The charity operates from a warehouse in Reigate, but the increasing need for larger items like beds and buggies has highlighted the necessity for more space.

A second warehouse adjacent to its current location has recently become available, presenting an opportunity for the charity to expand its operations. The grant will be used to install racking in this new building, enabling Stripey Stork to store items more effectively and continue to meet the growing demand for its services.

"Expanding our warehouse space is crucial for us to continue supporting families in need, especially during these challenging times," said a spokesperson for Stripey Stork. "This grant will significantly enhance our capacity to provide timely, high-quality support to families in Horley and beyond."

Over the past 18 months, Stripey Stork has supported 1,332 children in the Horley area through partnerships with local organisations, including Horley Family Centre, Manorfield Primary School, and Homestart East Surrey. These partnerships ensure that the charity reaches those who need it most, providing everything from clothing to essential baby equipment.

"With this grant, we can continue to tailor our support to each individual request, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to start life on an equal footing," the spokesperson added. "We want every family to feel that their community cares about them."

The grant awarded to Stripey Stork is part of a broader initiative by Horley Town Council to support voluntary and community efforts within the local area. A grant is a financial award made by the Council to be used by an organisation for a specific purpose that the Council considers beneficial to the local community. As the grant award is funded by public money, applicants must meet specific criteria to ensure the money is well spent.

The contribution made by numerous organisations to benefit the local community in Horley is highly valued. In recognition of these efforts, the Town Council allocates a modest annual budget to award small grants to voluntary and community groups, subject to available resources. These grants aim to support initiatives that create opportunities for Horley residents, which are not typically funded by the Council. Funding is available throughout the year, subject to budgetary constraints, and organisations seeking grant funding are encouraged to consult with the Town Council before applying to ensure eligibility.

As Stripey Stork looks to the future, the additional warehouse space and improved storage capacity will enable the charity to continue its mission of providing practical support to families in Surrey, ensuring that no child goes without the essentials they need to thrive.