In 2005 Charlton Toy Library secured a two year grant from The Big Lottery Fund to run a Mobile Van Project. We ran a two-year pilot which was hugely successful and far exceeded its targets, reaching 653 people over the two years. We have continued the outreach service with help from Help a London Child, the Capital Community Foundation and the Lloyds TSB Foundation.
The mobile toy loan service visits isolated groups across the borough, refugee and asylum seeking families, a women’s refuge and three HomeStart groups, all with children aged 0-5. This service now operates on three days a week and is well used by all its members. The bright red van (pictured above) has been custom built inside to hold toys, books, safety and baby equipment.
Membership for this project is £7.00 per year per family and toys and equipment loans start from 20p to £3.00. Toys are on loan from 2 weeks depending on the group’s needs.
We have been able to start up and continue a Safety Equipment scheme thanks to grants from The Local Network Fund and Help a London Child. We will give advice on the right toy choice for children, safety equipment and breastfeeding.
