In these days of environmental awareness it can be a particular challenge for families trying to balance low-plastic use with tight budgets and the need to keep the children entertained. Frome Toy Library, a well-loved, non-profit community service, based in the market town of Frome, has been busy taking this challenge on as they move into the next phase of their development to reach more children on the Somerset and Wiltshire border.
The Toy Library, as well as holding twice-weekly play sessions, lends a large selection of good quality educational toys and games all year round to its members. As director Sue Willis explains “Our members delight in having the opportunity to borrow different toys, or re-borrow old favourites, to give their children so much choice. Even the most creative children are delighted to have a ‘new’ toy so this gives them the chance to swap play-things over and over whilst parents don’t have to keep reaching for their wallets. It is a win-win for everyone. Children are supplied with different, stimulating resources without breaking the parent’s bank and this in turn reduces waste by avoiding old toys being thrown away and helps families with limited storage space.”
Unlike some other groups for young children, the Toy Library emphasises the importance of early play between adults and children; their stay-and-play sessions actively encouraging adults to engage, interact and have fun with their children rather than leaving the kids to play on their own. This helps to reinforce the bonds between child and parent/carer, and sometimes grandparent. It also encourages adults to chat to each other, to discuss early parenting issues and make social connections, helping to relieve social isolation. The Toy Library’s experienced key worker is on hand to give support and advice to parents and carers.
Twice-weekly sessions offer a safe and nurturing environment with a service which helps support young children’s wellbeing by developing early skills such as sharing, as well as basic learning (literacy and numeracy), introduces them to life skills such as cooking and life events such as trips to the dentist. These sessions also help to tackle social isolation, especially for first time parents and those that are new to the area providing an opportunity to build peer support networks.
The Frome Toy Library, which is funded by grant-funding, local-business sponsorship and kind donations, charges only £20 a year for full annual membership (including lending service) plus £1 per family for a play session (with reductions in membership price for families on benefits) so in order to maintain its service to the community and its vital work the Toy Library is looking to increase its membership and to encourage new donors and sponsors.
Currently offering a Christmas present sign-up option, if you would like to purchase membership as a seasonal surprise for a family who you know would enjoy the Toy Library then you can find details of how to gift that to them on the websitewww.fromechildrensfestival.org/toy-library. If you are ready to join up and come along yourself with your family, then please do just sign up online or get in touch viainfo@fromechildrensfestival.org to be sure of a very warm welcome.
The organisers are most keen to hear from local businesses who would be interested in sponsoring and supporting this vital, sustainable and growing community service. Sue Willis concludes “We have been very lucky to receive some major funding donations in the past years and last year were joined by two new sponsors. We are open to discussing with potential sponsors the size and type of sponsorships they are keen to offer. We very much hope to hear from local businesses with an interest in our sustainable, educational and, of course, fun Toy Library.”
