A BABIES support charity has started a campaign to raise £14,000 to build a sensory room.

Families and Babies Breastfeeding Support Charity (FAB) — which has its headquarters in Bolton — was set up to provide mother to mother breastfeeding peer support and has been doing so for the last 10 years.

After the initial success of its first shop in Tonge Moor Road, a new larger one has opened nearby, but in order for it to serve its purpose, the charity has embarked on an ambitious project.

After consultation with mums about what improvements could be made in the new shop, the decision was to build a new sensory room, a project called FAB Parade, to be incorporated within the second shop.

Elaine Edwards, chair of trustees at Families and Babies, said: “We made the decision some time ago that since our two shops in Bolton have become a hub for families in many ways, we wanted to give something back to the community.

“With the closure of the libraries and everything seemingly closing, we wanted to buck the trend.”

The charity, which relies on shop sales, fundraising and donations to survive and to enhance the reach of service to more families, has started a crowd surfing page, with the aim to raise £14,000 by July.

Along with a sensory room, it is hoped that a disabled toilet along with a stair lift can be installed.

Mrs Edwards said: “There is nothing like it in the area so I think it will be a real asset if we can get it built.

“FAB Parade is an ambitious project and we are asking fellow Boltonians to help us make this happen as soon as possible.

“Our crowd funding has only about five weeks left to run and we need to have established enough funds to move forward especially with the disabled toilet facilities.”

Currently some rooms in the new shop lay bare, but plans are in place to start work as soon as enough has been raised.

“It’s not just about money,” Elaine added. “Even if people could lend a hand, there are several jobs that they can volunteer to help with.

“Any help will be greatly welcomed,” she added.

People can donate to the crowdfunding site at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sensory-room-for-local-children

For more information about FAB or the project, contact Elaine Edwards on 07970451049 or e-mail elaine@familiesandbabies.org.uk