Inside the baby bank ‘at full capacity’ in London’s richest borough
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In a cosy room in West London, a small army of volunteers are busy setting out baby clothes, fresh food and Christmas toys ready to donate. On the phone, a staff member chats with a young mum about the children’s warm jackets they have on offer. There’s been a 40% increase in requests for help during winter at this health and wellbeing charity set up to support the local community, and while the gowing pressure of the cost of living crisis is sadly nothing new – this centre, is in the swanky Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea.
![[Mandatory Credit: Photo by Lab Ky Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (15003879h) The Silent Walk started at Grenfell Tower and paraded without a word through the neighboring Notting Hill streets. Residents and locals took to the streets of Notting Hill in remembrance of the 72 who died in the Grenfell Tower fire. 7 and a half years on from the disaster, locals are still campaigning for justice and prosecutions which continues to evade them. Grenfell Tower Silent Walk London, UK - 14 Dec 2024]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233290629-7f12.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Nearby you’ll find London’s most expensive street Kensington Palace Gardens, where houses go for upwards of £14 million – yet the charity, called The SPACE, is at full capacity. The story behind the centre sits just another mile away: the remains of the Grenfell Tower, where 72 people lost their lives due to ‘systematic dishonesty.’.
The SPACE was launched in the wake of the tragedy, with founders inspired by the overwhelming wave of solidarity which came from the local community as they supported each other. ‘I was metres away from the Grenfell Tower on the night of the fire,’ CEO and founder of the charity, Samia Badani, tells Metro. ‘I am still coming to terms with living with PTSD, it still feels raw,’ she says tearfully.
‘But when you witness a human tragedy like Grenfell and see how people were abandoned by the system that was meant to care for them, you know this is a catalyst for systemic change.’. One person impacted by that change that the charity has brought to the community is Daria, who lives in West London. Her life, and finances, took a drastic turn when she was informed she was having triplets in 2023.
