{"id":1952,"date":"2025-12-02T11:10:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T11:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journal.matchmyproject.org\/?p=1952"},"modified":"2025-12-16T18:18:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T18:18:19","slug":"how-buggies-4-brum-turned-collaboration-into-powerful-citywide-support-and-national-bbc-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journal.matchmyproject.org\/index.php\/2025\/12\/02\/how-buggies-4-brum-turned-collaboration-into-powerful-citywide-support-and-national-bbc-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"How Buggies 4 Brum turned collaboration into powerful citywide support \u2014 and national BBC coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Buggies 4 Brum campaign was launched after the Safe Sleep Scheme which provides sleeping equipment to families with children under 5 who are living in crisis situations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cOne mother had to use a shopping trolley to take her child to a medical appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In January 2024, Birmingham PlayCare Network<\/strong> launched its Safe Sleep Scheme<\/a><\/strong> with Thrive Together Birmingham<\/strong>, Spurgeons<\/strong> and Barnardo’s<\/strong> to give families cots and Moses baskets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While working on that project, their Business Development Manager, Emma Martin<\/strong>, realised the need for pushchairs, with many families struggling without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During harsh winter months, there was a concern that some families without cars would feel “trapped at home<\/strong>“, isolated from the local community, and without easy access to essential appointments for their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One mum had to use a shopping trolley to take her child to a health appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe have many families currently living in crisis<\/strong> who can\u2019t afford the basics to support their children. To be able to access a pram could be life-changing<\/strong> \u2014 simply by being able to take your child to appointments, get a sibling to school on time, whilst your baby is warm and dry in a lovely new buggy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The mission was simple but urgent: help families access the basic equipment they need to keep their children warm, safe, and mobile<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the launch of the Buggies 4 Brum<\/strong> appeal, asking businesses and individuals for donations of preloved or new buggies and prams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since their launch, in mid-November at the Fort Shopping Centre, Birmingham, with support from Birmingham City Council<\/strong>, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council<\/strong> and partners, the appeal has gained national attention through a BBC feature<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To maximise impact, Birmingham PlayCare Network posted their request for buggies on the Match My Project<\/a> platform<\/strong>, along with a second request for a photographer to capture the launch of the Buggies 4 Brum campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local supplier BSN Group Construction<\/a><\/strong> stepped in and supported both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Emma about how the Match My Project platform has supported the campaign.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFive minutes to load up a project was easy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discovering Match My Project<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Emma first heard about Match My Project (MMP) through PlayCare Network’s reuse project The Scrapstore<\/strong>, but it was a conference last year \u2014 highlighting collaboration between charities and private businesses via Social Value<\/strong> \u2014 that prompted her to give the platform a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI’m an optimist and thought I had nothing to lose. Five minutes to load up a project was easy<\/strong>, and I knew our work was impactful. I was hopeful that businesses would want to support what we were trying to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMMP has definitely made my work easier \u2014 without question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Match My Project Changed Their Approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Using Match My Project has transformed the way Birmingham PlayCare Network secures support<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma shares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMMP has definitely made my work easier \u2014 without question.<\/strong> Whereas before I could spend hours writing a funding bid which could be rejected with no feedback, now if there is something I need to support the centre or a new campaign, I can put it on MMP. Our requests can be supported by multiple partners and we can really develop relationships with those businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Instead of laborious fundraising applications, Match My Project allows for quick resource requests that build genuine working relationships with businesses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBusinesses can directly see how their support is helping our local community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt’s all about building relationships with businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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A Platform for Partnership<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond donations, Match My Project has opened the door to ongoing relationships with volunteers and businesses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve met quite a few businesses who said it was hard to find places to volunteer or support. Those people are now regularly in contact with us, looking to see when they can do their next volunteering day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For other community organisations looking to get support, Emma\u2019s advice is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“It’s all about building relationships with businesses<\/strong>, and making the requests achievable<\/strong>, not complicated, and if financial asks \u2014 realistic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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A Message to Future Business Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s great to meet new partners. They\u2019re genuinely interested in what we do and respect us for it. People are often surprised by how much we achieve with very limited resource. For those operating in the charity sector, to have our work valued and recognised across the business world<\/strong> is important.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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#Toys4Bham is running in 2025 after last year’s successful campaign.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How you can help Buggies 4 Brum<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n