A national children’s charity is helping Wiltshire mums look after their bundles of joy - thanks to support from groups across the county.

Spurgeons marked the third Christmas season for its Together for Families programme in Wiltshire by receiving donated items for its Baby Bundles at Warminster Baptist Church in North Row.

Lauren Gardiner, from Wiltshire Little Pickles Markets, presented a basket-full of donated items to Ruth Brooks-Martin, of Spurgeons’ Together for Families project in Wiltshire, for its Baby Bundles programme, watched by Brian Percey, of Warminster Baptist Church, and Jocelyn Short, of Warminster Mothers' Union.

A Baby Bundle for an unborn baby includes items such as nappies, cotton wool, maternity pads, blankets, cot sheets, muslins, hats, bibs and vests, sleep suits and baby clothes, for the first six months.

Each bundle is made up to order and, depending on availability, might also include a highchair, stairgates, bouncy chair, play gym and – especially at Christmas – toys.

They are put together to help families identified as being in financial need, referred to Spurgeons by midwives, health visitors, social workers and local children’s centres.

Ruth Brooks-Martin said: “For the families who receive the bundles, getting a hand-knitted cardigan or crocheted blanket shows them that someone cares enough to create and pass on these beautiful items.

"We’re so grateful for everything that is donated for the baby bundles; without the support of the many kind people who give and make clothes, donate toys and supply other baby items, the scheme simply couldn’t run."

All bundle items are donated by charities such as NCT, traders from Wiltshire Little Pickles Markets, local businesses, members of Mothers’ Union groups, local churches, voluntary groups and parents from Spurgeons’ nearby children’s centres.

The voluntary groups include some dedicated knitters’ groups, such as those at the Seymour Community Hub and the Kingfisher Church in Trowbridge and the Craft Ladies group from the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.

Their members give their time and skills to craft cardigans, teddy bears and blankets for the families. Churches in Westbury have helped in other practical ways, particularly with storage.

Spurgeons set up its Together for Families project in Wiltshire in March 2017. The programme is designed to support local churches and communities to provide safe, nurturing groups for families in their area.

Churches and community groups from Trowbridge, Westbury, Devizes, Upton Lovell, Marlborough, Westwood and Urchfont have been supported to set up or develop parent and toddler groups, while 250 families have completed New Parent, New Baby courses over the last two years.

They have also delivered several volunteer training courses, helping to secure a real lifeline service for local families.

If there are any churches or community groups in Wiltshire who would like to set up a parent and toddler group, or similar, or could do with some support for an existing group, they can contact the Together for Families team through Ruth Brooks-Martin on 07901 332829 or at rbrooks-martin@spurgeons.org.