Cathy Pettingale, the inspirational founder of Kids Bank recently retired. We spoke to her about her role creating the charity- which since 2019 has helped 7000 local children, and her plans for the future.

“We’ve changed from just an idea that started with a bunch of friends. We have never forced our growth, its just happened ” she says. The idea of offering clothes, toys, toiletries for families in need, operating in the same way as a food bank began in 2018.

“Just by watching a mum on the television, talking about the choices she had to make. It was between shoes for her daughter, or heating and eating. I just thought “we have to do something about this. I gathered some friends together. I used to ask mums in Morrisons in Saltney what help they needed. I did some market research ..” After the initial discussions the charity was founded in May 2019 in a room provided free of charge by Northgate Church.

Accumulating stock was ” the easy part because as soon as we got the premises and we started appealing, the floodgates just opened! We talk about a lot about our marvellous volunteers and our fantastic staff now, but the unsung heroes are the local community. They have been absolutely incredible. The response we get from specific shout outs is amazing . Its not just businesses like Sparkle the window cleaners who clean our windows for free, or Posh Tots Pram Cleaning who clean our prams for nothing, its individuals, its the mums and dads and the grandparents, they are the people who have supported Kidsbank and kept us going right the way through. ”

The pandemic was a challenge: “During the first part of lockdown we weren’t allowed to accept any donations, we sent out emergency parcels via the Food Bank and various places. When we could start taking donations, people were amazing. They just stepped right back up. The need didn’t stop just because it was lockdown. When we came out of lockdown we knew we couldn’t stay at Northgate. “

New premises were secured in September 2021 in the former Loves Garage on Garden Lane. (See https://thechesterblog.com/2021/09/16/kids-bank-chester-celebrate-move-to-new-premises/) “We raised £25,000 in a fundraiser, people were so incredibly supportive.” says Cathy. “The Bluecoat Charity saw our vision and they gave us a grant for the rent for 3 years. Without that we would never have been able to move forward. ”

Cathy notes that demand for the charity’s services has increased over the years.

” Last year there was a dip in donations due to the financial crisis , everybody’s bills had gone up. As soon as that relaxed a bit the donations started coming again. Its not just the increase in demand, its the families that are asking for help that has changed as well. We support a lot more refugees than we used to, working families. The wider area that has also increased, up towards Ellesmere Port ..

“I think what became very apparent was the community coming together, and the Government…. I think there are huge issues ” she pauses, hesitant to make any political statements. ” What’s happening is there a change in peoples prejudice’s, they look at families with 4 or 5 kids and make judgements. You could go down a rabbit hole, which is why we at KidsBank stay totally in our lane. We don’t look to the Right, we don’t look to the Left. We do one thing and we do it really well.!”

Cathy’s Christian faith has played a huge role in her journey. “I always knew that I wasn’t the person who was taking it into chapter 2, I knew that because I didn’t have the skillset. I am a great starter, I can battle through, but admin, spreadsheets absolutely not! “

Before Kids Bank Cathy didn’t work but took a part time retail job after moving to Chester. Of her adopted home town she says it feels “more vibrant ” now. “When you walk through the town at night theres so many places open. It feels like retail has been replaced by hospitality, but its no bad thing because it gives a focus. I often hear people saying its becoming a foodie capital.”

During the 2016 Syrian refugee crisis she went to Greece, a trip she describes as “life changing”.

“I worked there in the ports with refugees and that was life changing. Some of the people I met were so inspirational. I met 2 young girls, they were 19 , they were swimmers. At night they swam out to help people who were drowning. It had a huge impact on me.”

Of the future Cathy says she is looking forward to her daughter visiting from New Zealand for the first time since covid, as well as going island hopping in Greece with her husband Nick.

Kids Bank will continue in the safe hands of Operations Manager Dee Denton and the team. The 5 year plan for the charity is to expand to Birkenhead, The Wirral and possibly Flintshire. “When we started there were only about 60 baby banks in the whole country and there are now over 250. We are founder members of the Baby Bank Alliance. KidsBank is on the cusp of huge growth. The number of families needing support is going up on a month by month basis” .

Cathy pays tribute to everyone and all in the community who have supported Kids Bank:

“I had no idea not being from here how strong the community was. We put out an appeal for school shoes and people would go out to the shops and buy new school shoes. We are appealing for school uniform at the moment because so many families can’t afford it and the response has been phenomenal. Trevor at The Olde Cottage ( Brook street) is amazing. He is the salt of the earth, he rocked up at Kids Bank last week with twenty pairs of school shoes! ” The recent Christmas appeal saw over 7500 gifts donated by the public, schools, churches, business and charities including The Westminster Foundation .

“We have a waiting list for volunteers. Once volunteers come they don’t leave, they’re there! ”

Donations can be made to Kids Bank at the premises on Garden Lane ( open 10-3 Mon- Fri) or via the charity’s Amazon wish list.

With the 5 year anniversary of Kids Bank’s first referral coming up in May, Cathy reflects on the journey that has seen her work recognised by an invite to The King’s garden party in 2023.

“We have helped over 7000 children locally. I would never have believed there was so much need in Chester. ”

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