Malvern Maternity Clothes Library recently welcomed its 300th visitor to borrow maternity clothes! The clothes library, based in Malvern Wells, was set up twelve years ago by NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, Frances Thurlow. The library’s 300th visitor, Claire Taylor, (pictured) was delighted to go away with her arms full of lovely clothes to dress her growing bump at very little cost.

Frances explained that the idea of the maternity clothes library was born at a coffee morning in Malvern “I wanted to raise funds to support breastfeeding in our community, so we came up with the idea of a maternity clothes lending service. Instead of rifling through a bin bag of hand-me downs from a neighbour who was two sizes smaller, how about pooling our maternity clothes in one place where you could get a good selection as well as the right size? We all agreed and everyone started passing their bin bags in my direction!”

The funds raised by the library are used towards the running costs of local NCT ’Baby Latte’ breastfeeding support groups and also to support breastfeeding mums by sponsoring bras, for example. In the last year alone 265 families have received invaluable free breastfeeding support through the NCT Malvern Hills Branch breastfeeding support groups. In addition to the library’s proceeds supporting a good cause, the initiative saves the earth’s resources by reusing clothes at a local level.

Claire Taylor, the library’s 300th visitor is also looking forward to attending NCT antenatal classes with her partner, Mike, later this summer to prepare for the birth and their life as new parents. The Maternity Clothes Library is open to all, you don’t have to be a member of NCT or to be attending an antenatal class.

Malvern’s Maternity Clothes Library has thousands of lovely items in all sizes. To use the library borrowers should contact Frances on 01684 561485 or email [email protected] to arrange a suitable date and time to go and try on clothes.

A visit to the library costs £5, and each item of clothing costs £1 to hire for as long as the borrower needs it. The informal service is run from Frances’ home with plenty of changing room space for you to try on clothes at your leisure, even whilst accompanied by small children.

Malvern Maternity Clothes Library kindly supports Malvern Hills NCT Branch, but is not run by it. NCT is the UK’s largest parent charity and Malvern Hills NCT Branch is one of NCT’s network of over 300 local branches in the UK, dedicated to supporting parents via a range of services. For details of your local branch activities contact Hannah [email protected] message and follow them on Facebook and Twitter: @MalvernHillsNCT