Garrard announces an inspiring partnership with children’s charity Little Village
As a British company, London holds special meaning for Garrard. Partnering with Little Village, which supports disadvantaged children in the capital, this new alliance aims to aid young families in challenging circumstances.
Garrard has a longstanding legacy of partnering with local charities, extending its philanthropic arm into all walks of life, from supporting grassroots sporting initiatives to championing organisations promoting sustainable practices. For 2023, we are delighted to announce this new partnership.
Founded in 2016, Little Village supports families with babies and young children living in poverty across London. From babygrows to books, beds to buggies, the charity runs a baby bank network, collecting, sorting and passing on pre-loved clothes and equipment. Parents are also supported by a dedicated signposting and guidance team, which offers advice and links to other services. Little Village has fulfilled more than 32,000 requests for support and provided more than £9.8m worth of baby equipment and clothes since its inauguration. Families can choose to either come to their nearest hub to collect the items they need, or essentials can be delivered directly to their homes following a phone consultation.
The decision to partner with Little Village was a collective effort made by the entire Garrard team, who admire and identify with the circular economy efforts of the charity, which reuses preloved items to reduce the number of discarded children’s items that end up in landfill. In 2022, Little Village prevented over 100 tons or £2.75m worth of items going to landfill – the equivalent carbon emission savings of taking 30 cars off the road for a year. “Garrard is deeply committed to promoting circular, sustainable practices to reduce our environmental impact, and so the partnership with Little Village feels incredibly symbiotic,” says Joanne Milner, CEO of Garrard. “It is a real privilege to support Little Village with all the wonderful work they do, and we look forward to both volunteering our time and organising fundraising events to benefit the young children in London who need a helping hand.”
“Due to the cost-of-living crisis and the impossible choices families are having to make, support from Little Village has never been needed more, and so we’re incredibly excited that Garrard has chosen to partner with us,” says Sophie Livingstone, CEO of Little Village. “Together, we can help reach families with the material support and connections they so desperately need.”
