An organization dedicated to aiding parents and their infants in Wigan has initiated a fundraising campaign to acquire essential new equipment. Supportive Sloths, a sling and cloth nappy library, is managed by Rachael Cunliffe, Adele Pye, and Jess Morrissey, who conduct sessions across Wigan, St Helens, and Warrington.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend these sessions to learn the safe use of slings and carriers for their infants, explore the advantages of reusable nappies, and, if needed, rent them for a nominal fee. The gatherings also offer an opportunity for parents to connect with one another.
Six years ago, Supportive Sloths received funding from Wigan Council’s The Deal program to purchase stretch wraps. Since then, they have provided four weeks of free rental for babies aged six weeks and under. This initiative allows new parents to acquire the skills and confidence to safely carry their infants. Following the initial rental period, parents can choose to purchase their wraps or continue renting them.
Jess Morrissey of Supportive Sloths explained, “It’s a heartwarming program to ensure that new parents can practice babywearing without financial constraints. The funding was used to purchase the wraps, which had an original retail price of around £40 each, and we acquired approximately 30 to 40 of them. However, these wraps are now reaching the end of their lifespan, as they are frequently utilized in the library, washed, and reused. Under normal circumstances, wraps would be washed only occasionally, but our program has been so popular that they are cleaned regularly.”
The time has come to replace these well-used stretch wraps to sustain the free offering, but thus far, the organization has been unable to secure grant funding for new acquisitions. Consequently, Supportive Sloths has initiated an online fundraising campaign with the goal of raising £500 to purchase the required wraps.
Jess Morrissey stated, “We have chosen to launch a Kofi appeal and are requesting contributions, no matter how small, in the hope that these contributions will cumulatively reach our target amount.”
St Helens-based Joy and Joe Baby Wrap has generously offered a discount to Supportive Sloths for their new equipment purchases. The initiative aims to extend the reach of babywearing to even more new parents and their infants.
Jess, a mother of three who began attending Supportive Sloths after the birth of her first child nine years ago, commented, “Newborns enter a daunting world after being cocooned in their mother’s womb for so long. During the ‘fourth trimester,’ infants adjust to life outside the womb while remaining close to their parent’s chest for warmth and comfort. Baby wraps enable parents to bond with their infants while maintaining their daily routines. It’s the perfect solution for having a content and happy baby in your arms while getting things done.”
