Midwife's Emotional Call to Best Friend Sparks Life-Changing Wirral Baby Bank
A heartfelt phone conversation between two lifelong friends has blossomed into a vital community charity that is transforming lives across the Wirral peninsula. Kirsty Foley, a 35-year-old midwife from Bebington, and Amy Roberts, 35, from Claughton, have been inseparable companions since meeting at age eleven. Their enduring friendship has now evolved into a powerful partnership dedicated to supporting struggling families.
The Tearful Conversation That Changed Everything
One evening after returning from a demanding hospital shift, Kirsty found herself overwhelmed with emotion while reflecting on a family she had encountered who desperately needed assistance. Having previously worked in Liverpool where multiple support avenues existed, Kirsty discovered that resources were severely limited in Wirral, particularly following the coronavirus pandemic's devastating impact.
"I had a family that I needed to support, and I asked like, 'so where do we refer to here on the Wirral?' And they were just a bit like, oh, there isn't anywhere," Kirsty recalled. "They still pulled together and managed to support the women, but it was reactive rather than proactive."
In her distress, Kirsty immediately called her best friend Amy. Through tearful conversation, they conceived a vision for a Wirral service that would provide parents and expectant parents with essential baby items including clothing, toiletries, nappies, and safe-sleep equipment.
"She was in tears on the phone and I was like, lets just do [something about] it then.. come on, we can do it," Amy remembered of that pivotal moment.
From Vision to Reality: Building It Takes A Village
After extensive research and planning, the friends officially established It Takes A Village - Wirral Baby Bank, initially operating from St Joseph's Parish Church in Upton Village. The charity's rapid growth soon necessitated multiple moves—first to a unit provided by Kangaroo Self Storage, and eventually to their current home at Thursby House in Bromborough.
Having achieved registered charity status in January 2026, the organization has already supported approximately 50 families—roughly five families per week—providing everything from nappies and Moses baskets to prams and mattresses.
"We sadly don't see it [the economy] getting better any time soon, prices are even higher so then I think we're going to see even more families in need," Kirsty observed. "It's sort of like a bit of a lifeline for them [families] because what else would they do?"
Personal Challenges and Community Impact
The charity has become particularly meaningful for Amy, who received a diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera—a rare form of blood cancer—in April 2024. "I was in limbo at the time because I was like, I'm not going to see my kids grow up, I'm going to die," she shared. "But the more I've researched into it and I spoke to the haematologist and it's kind of eased that side of things because it is manageable."
"The Baby Bank has really helped because I was a bit in a rut," Amy continued. "So having this to get up and do and make me feel good, it's lovely. It makes me want to be up and out of the house and not sat in a heap of depression. So this has been a lifeline."
For Kirsty, the charity's work carries special significance as she remembers her mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2020. "Whenever we had a new baby in the family, she'd buy everything. She'd absolutely love this," Kirsty reflected. "It would have also given her a bit of a purpose as well because she was ill too."
How the Charity Operates and Grows
It Takes A Village - Wirral Baby Bank accepts referrals exclusively from trusted professionals and partner organizations including midwives, health visitors, social care services, and community groups. The charity focuses on three key areas:
- Providing essential items to meet basic needs
- Promoting safe sleeping practices
- Alleviating financial stress during pregnancy and early childhood
The organization has received substantial community support with donations from diverse sources including Merseyside Police, major retailers like Tesco and Asda, Boyes department store, Jireh Church community, Wirral Council, People's Postcode Lottery, Kittiwake Platform, Unilever, and numerous individual community members.
The charity continues to welcome donations of good-condition baby items while expanding its reach to support more families across the Wirral region during challenging economic times.
