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Part of our ongoing Growing Futures appeal, the second phase of development will see several new buildings erected – including a cider mill, a farm shop, and a café.
Thornbeck College
College's baby bank parcels to help new mums in need
Community midwives across County Durham and Darlington have received parcels destined to help new mums in need, thanks to a new project starting at Thornbeck College.
The Newton Aycliffe based college, which supports autistic young people aged between 16 and 25, has run a baby bank since 2023, offering donated clothing and items like nappies for families to pick up.
Now, with funding from the Baby Bank Alliance, learners from the college are delivering ‘urgent parcels’ to community midwife hubs in the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
The parcels contain a range of items for newborns, including clothes, sanitary products, a cellular blanket, and a small pack of treats to help keep mum’s energy up.
Learners hand delivered the latest parcels to midwives at Shotley Bridge Hospital in Consett, where they met Kelly Moore, Matron for Community and Antenatal Outpatients within the Trust.
“The parcels make an amazing difference to the families of County Durham and Darlington,” Kelly said.
“Especially the families who potentially may not have known about a pregnancy or had the funds to buy equipment.
“It gives them a really good start, and a really good basis for their families.”
The parcels will be kept by community midwives, who can identify new or expecting parents in need of support, and hand parcels over to them.
When a hub runs out of urgent parcels, the college will drop off a new set, ready to help more new mums.
Fay Strong, Principal at Thornbeck College said: “We are incredibly proud of the way our learners contribute to the community through both our learner-led baby bank and their recent link within the hospital.
“These experiences offer far more than just practical skills, they build confidence, empathy, responsibility, and a genuine sense of purpose.
“By supporting local families and assisting the hospital teams, our learners see first-hand the positive impact they can have on others. These opportunities empower them to grow not just as learners, but as active citizens in their local community.”
Kelly said the early days of working with Thornbeck College had “been amazing.”
“The students have been fantastic,” She added. “So we’re looking forward to working really well with them.”
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