July 2020 – London, Charlton – After nearly four months closure, the Charlton Toy Library (CTL) main premises has opened again. The popular stay-and-play sessions will not resume for the foreseeable future, but the Toy Library will be offering the toy, book and safety equipment borrowing service, twice a week (Thursdays and Saturdays). There is a wide range of books and toys for children from 0-5 years available, as well as safety and baby equipment.
Staff have been working over these last months to ensure it will be a safe service for people to use.
“It has been a challenging time for CTL, but we look forward to being of service to the community again” says Vicky Thomas, CTL Co-ordinator. “Due to generous grants from the City Bridge Trust, Greenwich Charitable Trust and the government Small Business Grants programme, the Toy Library running costs are now covered for the rest of the year and as a consequence we are able to allow all current and new members to borrow 5 toys and 5 books for free at a time. All current memberships have been extended by the four months that we were closed. Play is so important for children and the Toy Library can help all parents to keep their kids entertained with different toys, that don’t have to break the bank.”
Also, in order, to allow for more opportunity for people to use the borrowing service, CTL will be trialling opening on Saturday mornings in July, in addition to Thursdays. The service will be a book and collect model, where people can choose from a newly created online catalogue.
For more information on how to borrow toys, books and safety equipment, please visit the website http://www.charltontoylibrary.co.uk or our facebook page CharltonToyLibrary.
During these challenging times, we are pleased that we have been able to continue to support our outreach families with baby equipment, toys, food vouchers and phone support on a weekly basis. Sharon Jay, CTL outreach worker says: “We are so grateful to the wonderful and generous Greenwich community which has, through donations, enabled us to help so many desperate and vulnerable families.”
For more information please email info@charltontoylibrary.org
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Charlton Toy Library is a Registered Charity set up in 1982 by a group of mums who met on a regular basis with their children. They took turns in running it from their own homes. It is now housed within Charlton House and run by a voluntary Management Committee made up of current and former Toy Library members.
Charlton Toy Library aims to promote the principle that play does matter for the developing child. Our objectives are to:
- Make play available & lend appropriate toys and books.
- Extend the opportunity for shared play into the home.
- Provide play areas where children and adults can use a wide variety of toys and creative activities and to offer an opportunity to socialise and exchange experiences.
- Offer a befriending & supportive service to parents and carers.
Charlton Toy Library is not part of Greenwich Council or any Leisure Library. It is an independent voluntary group which has to secure its own funding.
Charlton Toy Library 
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