A charity which operates across Greater Manchester has rescued a lifeline service from closure that provides 'baby bundles' to families in need.

Since its inception in 2014, the charity Cascade Baby Bundles has been providing new and pre-loved clothing as well as equipment and essential items to families with newborn babies and children under 10.

The charity has since rocketed in demand amid the cost-of-living crisis with the founder, Lynne McMylor, moving the service from the living room of her home to permanent units.

Cascade provides items to families across the region and would even fundraise for items that cannot be given secondhand such as socks, underwear, nappies, toiletries and mattresses.

More than 1,100 children were supported in 2022 alone with almost 48,000 items donated.

The rise in energy bills, food and rent has had a direct impact on the charity with more vulnerable families needing their support than ever before.

However, Cascade regularly helps families who have suffered unpredictable events, such as the loss of their home in a house fire, loss of income and illness.

Ms McMylor said the idea for Cascade was born almost a decade ago when she watched a documentary on child poverty.

"When I set up Cascade, we never envisaged how big or how needed it would become - from the living room of our home to over 4000 square feet in our current units.

"The fact that we are needed at all is a reflection on how widespread poverty is, not only in our community but seemingly across the UK as more and more baby banks are opening in their attempt to fill the gap and provide items needed to help a child develop and meet their age-appropriate milestones alongside their peers", she added.

The charity founder also said none of it would have been possible without the support of volunteers "who are dedicated to the roles they perform in order to provide the very best that we can for some of the most vulnerable families in our community."

However, after Ms McMylor stepped down, Cascade was on the brink of closure until another local charity decided to take on the service and fight for its survival.

Home-Start HOST helps families across Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Bolton with a range of issues from poverty, isolation and domestic abuse to breastfeeding support and parent-infant mental health.

The charity has long used Cascade's services to help its own families with the CEO, Sarah Cook, saying it has been "an immense source of help".

Ms Cook added: "We also know how much the service is used by our colleagues from Health Visiting and Social Care, so when we heard it was facing closure we just had to try and do something.

"Lynne has been a real inspiration and has taken Cascade from a small service running from her home to one that now provides for families across Greater Manchester, she’s a real community hero.

"It’s a privilege to take on Cascade and we aim to maintain the high standard of service offered under Lynne’s leadership.

"She should be really proud of what she’s achieved.”

Over the course of 2023, the charity said it expects to see a huge increase in referrals and plans to expand its service to cater to all those who need it.

HOST is currently fundraising to continue Ms McMylor's work.

Donations can be made to facilitate its survival on the JustGiving website here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cascadeappeal