A BOLTON-based charity has won a prestigious eBay award for its inspirational work locally and nationally.

Families and Babies, based in Tonge Moor Road, helps promote and support breastfeeding mothers by providing home visits, support groups and helplines.

Their goals include enabling mums to access evidenced based information to make informed infant feeding choices and to work alongside health professionals to provide breastfeeding support.

The charity was recognised with the eBay Charity of the Year award at a ceremony in London, which aims to highlight and celebrate inspiring entrepreneurs with businesses who have already made their mark as well as up and coming sellers on their way to success.

The charity began as a community group in 2004 before becoming a registered charity in 2010. After opening a shop and being inundated with donations, the charity eventually expanded to the internet.

They have now helped over 250,000 families across the UK.

Elaine Edwards, chair of Trustees of Families and Babies, said: “We never really did a lot on eBay up until the last 12 months.

“I researched what other charities were doing on eBay and after setting up we made about £15-16,000 in a year.

“I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it keeps us going. It’s phenomenal for us.”

Families and Babies was one of 10 winners on the night. Once each award had been handed out, the winner of the Grand Prize was determined by a voting button handed out to everyone at the event.

To Elaine’s “utter amazement”, her charity won.

The prize includes a trip to the United States, where Elaine will meet with the eBay Senior Executive team in Silicon Valley in California, as well as £5000 and exclusive eBay benefits.

She said: “Someone said we won and I was like ‘oh my God’. I’m super excited about it, words can’t explain how it feels to win the award.

“I feel this is a true lifeline to the charity in enabling us to become self-sufficient for years to come and to be able to support more families.

Elaine has already set out her goals for the future of the charity and the ways more can be done to improve Bolton and the wider community.

“My big dream is to open a massive warehouse. I want more employment in Bolton, more jobs in Bolton and more support in Bolton.

“We are looking to offer a complete service to mums and their families by offering a selection of infant feeding support groups, mental health and wellbeing groups, educational groups around baby first aid, baby massages, local drop ins, coffee mornings and dad groups.

“We are also hoping to expand our eBay sales which in turn will open up more employment opportunities for the residents of Bolton.”