What is the The Safe?
As a non-profit charity we offer help and support to all families of all ages across Basingstoke and North Hampshire. We are able to give support for Family Crisis, Pregnancy Crisis, Post-Abortion, Miscarriage and Bereavement.
We also provide support through our Dads’ Hub, Parents’ Groups, Clothing and Equipment help (including books and clothing for older children and school supplies), Hope for Carers and Grandparents’ Groups as well as Social Triage, Social Signposting and Interagency Referrals.
We have a baby clothing and equipment service that aims to support mothers, fathers couples or extended family who are struggling financially to provide for their baby or young child with the necessary equipment or clothing.
I am in real crisis regarding a pregnancy and need to speak to somebody urgently, what should I do?
Please email us at enquiries@the-safe.org.uk or send us a private message via our facebook page The Safe Basingstoke | Basingstoke | Facebook and we will get back to you within 24 hours and as quickly as we possibly can.
I have lost a child or grandchild and would really like to speak to somebody.
Please call our dedicated bereavement line on 07527 489143.
What groups do you have on during the week?
We have a Wednesday group for Babies and Preschool children which runs from 11am-1:30pm and also includes a free lunch. This group runs term-time only and is free of charge. The group is targeted at parents and children who want or need a bit of extra support and is a self-referral service which is open to all.
Thursday is for Babystore and social triage support which runs from 10.30-12.30
On Fridays, we have a Young Parents’ Group for parents who are aged 21 or under. All are welcome. This group runs every second Saturday from 12:30-14:00, please email enquiries@the-safe.org.uk or send us a PM via our facebook page The Safe Basingstoke | Basingstoke | Facebook for details of which Friday the next group is being held on.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month, we have Parents’ group 11.00-12.30 and Dads’ Hub 14.00-15.30. During this time, our Babystore is also open whenever it is safe to do so.
We also have a Hope for Carers group which supports Parents of children and Young People who have difficulties with their Mental Health. This group runs online on Tuesdays and meets face-to-face on Fridays. Please email enquiries@the-safe.org.uk for further details.
Please see our leaflets https://the-safe.org.uk/ and look at our Facebook page for more details.
Do I need to be on certain benefits to attend?
No not at all, all of our services are completely free and open to all.
Do you accept donations?
We accept any baby and young child related items, including clothes, books, toys and craft supplies up to age 14 and any baby equipment, excluding mosses basket/cot mattresses and car seats.
We also accept in non-logo school uniform, shoes, trainers, P.E. kit, water bottles, backpacks, lunchboxes and other school supplies for Primary aged children.
Please only donate items that be you would be happy to receive yourself.
What quality nearly new items can I donate?
Any clothes, toys, equipment (excluding mattresses and car seats) from baby to age 12 children. We are always in need of stairgates (with fixings) and pushchairs.
When can I donate items?
We take in donations every Thursday during term time between 10:30 – 12:30, but please do call or email ahead to ensure we have space to accept your kind donation. Alternatively, you can deliver to us on the second Saturday of every month between 11am and 12.30pm.
That’s really awkward, why can’t I come to donate items at any other time?
Because of the varied work we do at The Safe, we have to make sure donations are only received when we have the correct team in to process them.
We also have to ensure that donations are not made when there are large groups of children in the building, for reasons of safety, or when there may be parents who have lost a child or who are going through crisis receiving support from one of our other teams.
Where are you located ?
The Safe, Basingstoke Ltd. 18 Winchester Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7DY.
The rear entrance to The Safe, Basingstoke Ltd. is at the top right-hand corner of Joices Yard car park, just passed the black spiral staircase. This is accessed from New Street, on the right, just passed the turning for Winchester Road (which is on the left).
How do I contact The Safe?
Please email us at Enquiries@the-safe.org.uk, or call 01256 460100 or PM via our facebook page The Safe Basingstoke | Basingstoke | Facebook. Please note, our phones are not manned 24 hours, but we do our very best to man facebook at all times.
I am unable to drop off donations, do you offer a collection service?
Sorry due to our availability of volunteers we are unable to collect donations currently.
If you have a large item you would like to donate, please email us at Enquiries@the-safe.org.uk but we will be unable to collect it.
Why can’t you collect my items from me?
We have a very small but dedicated team of volunteers and paid workers. Our top priority is supporting those in need and making trips out to collect items from private homes drastically reduces the amount of time we have available to do this.
Can I donate a car seat or mattress?
We do not accept used car seats or mattresses. This is for both legal and safety reasons, perhaps look at donating these items on a local free site.
Do you accept baby related electrical items?
Yes, we do accept working items, such as baby monitors, breast pumps and sterilisers.
Can I donate formula and baby food?
We do accept unopened product, but please can there be a minimum of 3 months date on the items. We also only take the standard stage 1,2 and 3 formula as we are usually unable to place dietary restricted formulas with a family in need.
The Basingstoke Foodbank does also take in food donations, https://basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
Do I need to email in advance if I have donations?
There is no need to contact us if you are donating bags of clothes, but please can you email or facebook in advance if the item you are delivering is large (i.e., highchairs, cots and beds).
We just need to ensure we have enough volunteers in to help receive the item.
I don’t have any baby items to donate but would still like to help. What can I do?
We are always in need of lots of items beyond clothes and equipment. Perhaps you could donate a pack of nappies or wipes or unopened toiletries (bodywash, toothbrushes etc) for new mums/dads. we are also always grateful for financial donations and our bank details can be found at the bottom of this page.
Can I volunteer?
We are always looking for more volunteers, please email us at Enquiries@the-safe.org.uk.
I would like to donate other gifts to your charity?
We would be very grateful for any monetary donations, please email us at Enquiries@the-safe.org.uk for further details.
Donations will be used to purchase any items required for a family in an emergency i.e., mattresses, toys, specific items of clothing, toiletries, as well as to provide food and resources including, where needed, staffing, for our completely free and open to all support groups.
What do you do with the donations?
We will sort all of the donations into the Babystore basement ready for anyone who needs them. Anyone is welcome at the Thursday sessions to come in and collect from the Babystore with no proof of need necessary.
Because we are very passionate about reducing waste and our environmental impact, anything which we receive which does not meet our standards will be sent for recycling wherever possible. It is very rare that we have to throw any donated items away to landfill.