Newsletter - Sat 14 Sep, 2024

By David Grantham

In this issue

• Electric van helps Stripey Stork deliver essentials

• New wine bar and shop coming to the High Street

• News in brief (5 items)

• Acoustic fence added to Reigate Hill school plans

Electric van helps Stripey Stork deliver essentials

• Stripey Stork team members met with referral partners and colleagues from Raven to check out the new van

Reigate-based baby bank Stripey Stork has its first fully electric van, thanks to support from Raven Housing Trust.

The Ford Transit will enhance the charity’s ability to distribute essential items to vulnerable families across Surrey and bordering areas, improving the service to referral partners and those that they support.

The charity’s seven delivery hubs, soon to become eight, serve 13 other locations across the region.  As well as deliveries, items need to be moved between sites and donations collected from other organisations.

The van has been wrapped in a vibrant design by Redhill signwriting firm Boss Dog, making the vehicle a mobile ambassador for the charity’s mission.

Nicola Dawes, chief executive of Stripey Stork, said: "We are so pleased to add this fully electric van to ‘Team Stork’. It represents not just a leap in our operational capabilities, but also our commitment to sustainability.

“This van ensures that no family in need is out of reach, regardless of where they are in Surrey or the surrounding areas. We are incredibly grateful to Raven Housing Trust for their support in making this possible."

Angela Ellis, head of community investment & partnerships at Raven Housing Trust, said Raven was “proud to support Stripey Stork in their mission to provide essential items to families who need them most”. 

She added: “By helping them transition to an electric vehicle, we are not only supporting their growth but also contributing to a more sustainable future for our communities. 

“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this van will have on the lives of so many families."

Since 1 September 2023, Stripey Stork (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) has helped 10,400 families - up from 8,443 in the same period the previous year.