A BABY and family clothing bank in Airdrie has received a significant boost.

The £2,000 donation will enable the bank, run by local charity Diamonds in the Community, to provide essentials to more families in the area.

Already supporting around 50 to 75 families every month, they hope to reduce the financial burden on families by giving them clothing, footwear, toiletries, bottles, and toys.

They work with referrals from agencies such as health visitors, midwives, schools, Women’s Aid, and social work.

Diamonds in the Community was formed in 2019 by six members of the Airdrieonians Supporters Trust and continues to support people in Airdrie, Coatbridge and across North Lanarkshire.

Mears Group, who donated the money, also provided the time of an electrician and an apprentice to complete the testing of the electrics in the bank's building.

READ MORE: Glasgow council owed £4m as homeless temporary accommodation increases

Douglas Allsop, Diamonds in the Community fundraising and partnership manager, said: “Sadly we are seeing an increasing demand for our service across the region, and we rely on the support of the public and companies like Mears to ensure we can help everyone who needs it.

“We have ongoing running costs, including our town centre premises and storage containers. There are also items we regularly buy from shops, such as safety gates, cot mattresses, bedding, and duvets, hoovers and microwaves. The money we have received from the Mears Foundation is a massive boost to us and allows us to help the vulnerable in our community."

Barry Duncan, Managing Director at Mears, said: “We were very pleased to be able to provide practical support to Diamonds in the Community, we know how much of a financial burden the upkeep of premises can be on a charity so were pleased to help reduce this cost. 

"After seeing first-hand the incredible work that the team does, we knew we wanted to find other ways to help and were delighted the Mears Foundation was able to make a donation.”