Little Stars Community Impact | Summer 2025 Highlights
As summer unfolded, the Little Stars team was busier than ever, helping families across Shropshire access the essentials they need. Between June and August, we supported 340 children, a remarkable achievement made possible by the generosity, compassion, and care of our community.
From helping families that recently relocated to ensuring children had the essentials to start school with confidence, every bundle, referral, and pop-up event made a real difference. Here’s how your support helped local children this summer.
June: Supporting Families Through Change
June was a busy month at Little Stars, with 95 children and their families receiving support: a 14% increase from last June.
We distributed around 1,200 items through our Baby Bank, Tots to Teens services, and our Cool for School campaign. This included 39 toiletries and nappy packs, 32 pieces of baby equipment, 34 clothing bundles, 18 nighttime bundles, 11 safety-in-the-home bundles, 13 toy bundles, and 192 Cool for School items.
Behind every number is a story of care. One mum, after 10 months in refuge, was finally moving into a home of her own. With the costs of setting up a new home, she couldn’t afford safety equipment for her toddler. Thanks to funding and monetary donations, we can purchase essential safety equipment, such as stairgates, as part of our Safe and Secure project, giving families peace of mind and helping little ones feel safe in their new home.
Another mum fled her home with her four daughters, bringing only a few clothes for her eldest. With help from community donations, Tesco, and Sal’s Shoes, we provided clothing, pyjamas, toiletries, sandals and shoes for her younger children, a simple act that brought smiles and relief during a difficult time.
July: Our busiest month this year
In July, we supported an incredible 142 children: a 67% increase on the same month last year.
Our Cool for School service helped 62 children prepare for the new school year. We took support directly into the community, holding school uniform pop-up events at:
Eastern Oswestry Community Centre
Ditherington Community Centre, Shrewsbury
The Zone, Market Drayton
Through these events and our referral service, children received essentials including jumpers, trousers, skirts, shirts, dresses, and shoes, helping them start school with confidence.
Through our Baby Bank and Tots to Teens services, we also distributed:
23 nighttime bundles including Moses baskets, mattresses, and pyjamas, 17 safety items such as stairgates, 29 nappy and toiletry bundles,30 clothing bundles,13 toy bundles, including one for a little girl whose development was being affected by a lack of play opportunities. She now has books, colouring sets and puzzles to help her learn and thrive.
August: Preparing for the New School Year
August marked the peak of our Cool for School campaign and another busy month for our Baby Bank. Altogether, we supported 103 children, helping families prepare for the new school term and ensuring babies and toddlers had the essentials they needed.
Our Baby Bank supported 26 children and 6 expectant mums, providing the essentials they needed to thrive. Families received clothing bundles, nappies and toiletry packs, nighttime bundles, and pre-loved equipment to make life at home safer and easier. We also provided feeding and weaning support and toy bundles to help children learn and play.
Through our Cool for School service, we supported 71 children, distributing a total of 544 essential items, including school uniforms, shoes, and other key supplies. These were delivered through 33 referrals and a pop-up event at SYA – The Lodge in Shrewsbury, ensuring children could start school with confidence, dignity, and everything they needed to thrive.
We also saw a growing need among teenagers, particularly for period products and hygiene packs. By providing period packs for girls and toiletries for boys, we’re helping to address period poverty and ensure young people can attend school with dignity and confidence.
Thank You
From baby bundles to back-to-school kits, every item we provide is only possible because of your kindness. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Little Stars, through monetary donations, fundraising, shopping with us, or giving items, you’ve helped ensure children across Shropshire have the essentials they need to feel safe, confident, and cared for.
Thank you for being part of the Little Stars community. Together, we’re making a lasting difference for local families.
