A CHURCH group is celebrating after being nominated in the BBC Radio Somerset ‘Make A Difference’ awards.

The group from Wellington Methodist Church have been running a baby clothes swap from the church for four years this autumn.

They are one of four finalists in the Community Group Award section recognising the work of a group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community.

Stephanie Vine, co-organiser of the group along with community outreach worker at Wellington Methodist Church Helena Power were shocked to find out they’d been nominated.

She said: “We were nominated without us knowing. We're just very honoured that we've been given this recognition.

“But we're not so concerned about winning. It's the fact that this is raising the profile and letting more people know about what we do.”

The Baby Clothes Swap will be four years old this autumn offering parents a lifeline in the cost of living crisis.
The Baby Clothes Swap will be four years old this autumn offering parents a lifeline in the cost of living crisis. (Wellington Methodist Church)

The clothes swap allows parents to drop in and pick up clothing for babies from newborn to five years old and leave behind clothing no longer used by their child in return.

The swap has turned from a practical support for parents to an absolute lifeline as families deal with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

What started out as part of the church toddler group meeting with a few clothes on a table in the corner of the room has grown to a fully fledged baby clothes swap session, twice each month.

Stephanie explained: “We were inundated with clothes and we realised that we had more than was needed by the two dozen or so parents who come along to the toddler group.

“So we started organising it more and advertising when we would be open.”

Very soon, the Baby Clothes Swap which caters from newborn up to 5-year-olds had grown so much the church needs rearranging with their minister’s support.

Stephanie added: “Our minister comes and helps at 8 o’clock in the morning to put all the chairs back to minimise some of the heavy lifting for us.”

Helena Power and Stephanie Vine founded the baby clothes swap in 2022.
Helena Power and Stephanie Vine founded the baby clothes swap in 2022. (Bethia Wyborn)

Cardboard boxes have been replaced with more suitable plastic storage, with clothing rails to display the items, all paid for with a community fund grant from Waste not Somerset administered by Somerset Community Foundation.

The clothes are weighed so that the group can report back on how many items of clothing are being saved from landfill.

And it’s no longer just clothes that get swapped - shoes, bottles, hats, gloves, welly boots, muslin cloths and bedding have all swapped hands helping parents kit out their little ones.

Stephanie added: “If people come and say, well, I haven’t had time to organise sorting out any clothes or something like that, we say don't worry, just take what you need and bring us something when you can.”

The group will find out if they’ve won when they attend the award ceremony being held at Taunton Brewhouse on September 20.

The clothes swap is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 11 am to 1.30 pm in Wellington Methodist Church.