Moray Baby Bank makes vital deliveries in new van thanks to windfarm operator's cash award

MORAY Baby Bank has a new electric van to drop off essential items to vulnerable families across Moray.

The charity – which has been supporting up to five families a week across the region throughout the pandemic – has stepped up a gear thanks to a £28,000 windfall from the SSE Beatrice Partnership Fund.

Since being set up two years ago, the charity has worked with agencies, including NHS health visitors, Moray Women's Aid, Step by Step and social workers, to get vital baby equipment to local families.

The SSE award has covered the purchase of a Nissan E-NV200 electric van, the sign-writing, installation of a charging point and a lining kit.

The charity provides families with items such as nappies, formula milk, clothing, cots and buggies for newborns up to two years old.

The baby bank van handled its first delivery in the snow earlier today.

Co-founder and secretary Ian Sutherland said: "The van is a fantastic asset to the running of the charity and enables us to keep our carbon footprint down when making deliveries of essential baby items to families across Moray."

The charity covers the whole of Moray, from Forres to Buckie and as far south as Tomintoul.

Its trustees travelled to Dicksons of Inverness on January 15 to collect the van from Nissan sales manager Martin Montgomery, from where Mr Sutherland made the maiden voyage back to Moray Baby Bank headquarters at Urquhart's old Store and Post Office.

The charity, which has five volunteers, was signposted to the SSE Beatrice Partnership Fund through TSi Moray.

Mr Sutherland's wife, Susan, set up the Moray group in January 2019 after a TV programme, featuring a Glasgow baby bank, triggered memories of the hardship she faced as a new mum more than 30 years ago.

Any parents seeking support from Moray Baby Bank should consult their midwife or health worker, or contact Mrs Sutherland via the Facebook page or on 07935 223 480.