The Baby Café in Tunbridge Wells – described by one mum as a “life saver” for new or expectant parents – is turning to the community in a desperate attempt to secure money to keep it going.

The weekly support group, which started in 2012, is held in Christ Church in the High Street and has helped more than 1,000 families.

It has a team of highly qualified and supportive NCT breastfeeding counsellors and volunteers and not only does it give one-to-one feeding support, it is a place where new mums can make friends. They even get free hot drinks and home-made cake.

Desperate to continue its work, the Baby Café has started a GoFundMe page in a bid to drum up £4,500.

Mums have described the café as a place where they could access a “fountain of knowledge”.

Another said it was a haven where “stressed, tired and hormonal mothers” could be “calmed and reassured”.

Jennie Yelverton, the Baby Café Tunbridge Wells co-ordinator, said: "We believe that ongoing non-judgemental specialist support should be free and readily available to all parents throughout their journey into parenthood."
Jennie Yelverton, the Baby Café Tunbridge Wells co-ordinator, said: "We believe that ongoing non-judgemental specialist support should be free and readily available to all parents throughout their journey into parenthood."

It was established with Lottery funding and was financially supported by the Tunbridge Wells branch of the NCT along with local businesses and organisations.

But as KentLive previously reported,  the NCT branch closed in June due to a lack of volunteers, although it is hoped it will reopen once a new committee is in place.

The Tunbridge Wells Baby Café co-ordinator and qualified breastfeeding counsellor Jennie Yelverton said: “Unfortunately the break from the branch has meant starting again so we have, for the first time, turned to the public and would appeal to local businesses to support us as a sponsor.”

She added the team had been “overwhelmed” by public support and had so far secured more than £850. But she said they wanted regular funders for the longer term.

She said: “With the money we have raised so far, we can open our doors as planned in September but it will not be enough to keep us running for long. If any local businesses or individuals would like to support us, we would love to hear from them.”

She said £25 would support one of their families for one year. If you would like to help Baby Café continue its work, visit here.

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