Community

M A M A to M A M A , the first and only baby bank service in Thanet, Kent.

We spoke to Jayne, the founder, and bought items from their current wish list to take to their warehouse in Manston. The warehouse stores all the things that a new mum would need, from beds to prams, clothes and toiletries, and they provide these items in curated care packages for 0-5 years.

As a charity, they are always looking for donations of very good condition items, making sure new mothers feel seen and valued, especially in situations where they would struggle to afford these items themselves. They also provide workshops and opportunities for mums to get together and can socialise in safe spaces, so important especially for those who are anxious or without a support network.

‘Our vision is that every newborn baby and child under 5 in Thanet, has the best start in life. We want ALL parents and caregivers to have access to the items and resources they need for a healthy and happy beginning for their family. By reducing financial anxieties and offering support, we want to reduce the risk of socio economic disadvantages to the child.
By taking away financial anxiety we hope to reduce the risk of postnatal mental health issues and potential negative impact on the foetus.
Mama to Mama also exists to contribute to a greener planet, by reducing the amount of children’s items going to landfill each year and encouraging circular living within our community.’

You can donate at any time, visit their social media pages or visit their website for details of what they need;

https://www.mama-to-mama.co.uk/donate-items

Following on from the successful partnership with Monkton Nature Reserve in 2022,  we have continued to support them. 

We regularly work with and alongside the reserve, swapping native seeds grown on both our land, and even sending some of our staff to volunteer on their site.

You can find out more about the work being done at the reserve by visiting their website (www.monkton-reserve.org)

In April 2026, we have supported Birchington in Bloom, a community group of volunteers working together to make Birchington a more beautiful village, full of flowers and colour.

Birchington in Bloom do fantastic work improving areas of land within the local community, transforming spaces to make them brighter and more welcoming through flowers and planting. Their efforts have a real visual impact and help foster pride in the local area.

The group works with volunteers, and it was great to hear about the positive social impact this has. Volunteering provides opportunities for people to connect, spend time outdoors and benefit from improved mental health and wellbeing through meaningful, community-focused activity.

The group welcomes everyone, a space where you can spend time investing into the local community while making friends and improving mental health.

‘Birchington in Bloom is a group of volunteers whose aim is to make our village a more attractive place to live. We operate as small individual groups who tend areas, not privately owned, within the village that are perhaps overgrown or neglected. You do not need to be a gardener to join , you can get the therapeutic feeling of gardening by helping to look after a section of overgrown land near you. We have an area in the village that we use as a hub to grow our own plants making use of our own greenhouses and raised beds. We already have existing sites that we tend. We are an official recognised volunteer group within the Parish Council. Come and join us, you could have a rewarding, friendly time. Put your suggestions forward to like minded people, whether its for an hour a week or four hours a day, its completely up to you and all for a good cause while having fun and making new friends.’

We donated to Birchington in Blooms’ new flower patch along the Parade in Minnis Bay.