Greenisland Parish completes Baby basics challenge

Friday November 10th 2017

Rector of Greenilsland, the Rev Paul Lyons, and members of the parish present the Baby basic items to Connor Children’s Officer Jill Hamilton.

Greenisland is the latest parish to complete the Diocese of Connor’s Baby basics project which aims to support families in need by supplying essential items such as toiletries and clothing.

Working from the Connect Base in Shankill Road, Baby basics Belfast is a volunteer-led project aiming to support new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby.

It is the first in Ireland and is part of a growing network of Baby basics centres across the UK.

Baby basics Belfast started in January and is led by Diocesan Children’s Project Officer Jill Hamilton and Lead Pioneer Evangelist in the Centre for Mission, Sister Karen Webb.

Jill said: “Baby Basics Belfast works alongside health professionals from local Sure Start and Health Centres who refer families in need. We are then able to support the families by providing them with essential equipment, clothing and toiletries.”

Baby Basics Belfast works in partnership with local churches and relies on donations from congregations.

“We ask participating parishes to support us for a month at a time by highlighting Baby Basics during the Sunday Service and asking the congregation to donate items that can be passed on to families in need,” Jill said.

“Participating churches can request someone to come along to their church service or church group to explain what Baby Basics is all about and will be provided with leaflets containing all the relevant information about what to donate.”

Parishes which have completed the Baby Basics Four Week Challenge to date are Glenavy, Lambeg and now Greenisland, with Christ Church, Lisburn, undertaking the challenge during November.