The UK toy industry charity The Toy Trust is continuing to support children’s charities into 2022.

Founded by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA), the Toy Trust exists to raise money predominantly from the toy industry, its suppliers, and friends – and distribute the funds to charities helping disadvantaged and disabled children.

The Toy Trust has released details of three examples of its latest support for inspiring children’s charities:

The Friends of Holcot

The Friends of Holcot is a registered charity based in the Kent town of Edenbridge. One of its aims is to improve the lives of local disadvantaged families through the provision of a Community Outreach Project.

The Toy Trust supported this well-run community charity with funding which provided a trip to a Christmas pantomime for 126 underprivileged children to enjoy a festive outing together at the end of a difficult year.  The Toy Trust provided transport and a ‘treat bag’ of sweets and surprises for each child.

Community Project Co-ordinator Lesley Andrews said: “We are so thankful to the Toy Trust for enabling this special trip to the theatre for our young people who would not have been able to enjoy this sort of trip without help. This will have made their Christmas. Thank you!”

Dingley’s Promise

Dingley’s Promise is a Reading-based charity that supports more than 150 children aged under five with additional needs and disabilities, and their families, by providing specialist learning, support and training and offering advice to families.

The Toy Trust funding provided support for their Covid-19 response, a new sensory garden, and transport costs to get children to the charity’s centres. 

Chief executive Catherine McLeod commented: “It is with the support of valuable partners like The Toy Trust that we are able to continue our vital services for children in our care. We are so grateful to all those that fundraise for The Toy Trust for their support.”

WHISH

WHISH (Whitby Hidden Impairments Support & Help) is a registered charity offering support and help to families in Whitby and the surrounding area who have a child with Hidden Impairments (include autism, dyspraxia, epilepsy, ADHD). This support group was set up by parents to give children positive experiences.

A grant WHISH received from The Toy Trust helped the charity to support children and their parents, ensuring their social and emotional needs were met in the most difficult circumstances during the pandemic.

WHISH identified that during the early part of the pandemic, many members were falling behind in their education, with online learning proving difficult to access and manage. So, WHISH created a loan box scheme, where families could borrow a box tailored to their child’s needs. Each box supported and assisted them towards attaining the correct levels at their key stage in the subjects of maths, literacy, science, and history, with volunteers delivering and collecting the boxes as required.

WHISH also recognised a need for online activities which could be accessed through Zoom to ensure members had opportunities to socialise and stay in touch. Anxiety, loneliness, feelings of isolation and a lack of routine were areas which repeatedly came up as problematic during telephone/zoom support sessions with parents. 

WHISH provided a therapeutic online and in person Yoga session including mat, blocks, and a belt, to members, and a teacher via zoom. This ensured that young people would have a weekly activity benefitting their social and emotional needs as well as their overall wellbeing.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Toy Trust Media Auction goes live on January 25, with bids closing at 5PM on January 27.

Toy Trust Big Challenge takes place in June – details will be announced shortly.