“As the manager of Brighton & Hove’s City Council’s Family Information Service (FIS), my team has noticed an increase in the number of families facing financial hardship and contacting our service for support. Welfare reform, the insecurity and high cost of housing along with a high instance of mental and physical health issues in the city have all impacted on the ability of families to cope with day to day living costs and the expense of additional items needed at various stages in a family’s life.

At the Family Information Service, we offer advice and support to families and make referrals to foodbanks, the Local Discretionary Fund and apply to charitable trusts for grants. However, there is a real gap when sourcing items in emergencies locally, or when the criteria are not met for assistance…We fully support the work Pelican Parcels is trying to do.”

“I really want to thank you for all the items that was given to me. It was more than ever thought I would receive from baby vests to a whole buggy, moses basket etc. I don’t know what I would have done without all the donations. I’m a young mum and I’m not working so I was stressing so much, plus my baby came 2 months early so I really not prepared it. I had nothing for the baby! So again I just want to say a huge Thank you again for your generosity it has really helped me and my baby more than you would imagine. <3  I plan to donate once my  baby has grown out of his clothes.” 

“The mum who received the clothes and shoes for her 2 children was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the two big bags she cried. She rang me the other day to say to pass on a Huge Thank you to you all and had been going through all the clothes her two had grown out of and wanted to give back to you if she could so I said I would find out if you were taking donations?” 

“The service I work for has used yours for many of our families and you are making a huge impact. This kind of support is life changing for many families, not just because of the practical things they receive but because of the message it carries. They know someone cares, and that there is hope – and most of all that there is kindness in this world.”