The Frome Toy Library has achieved its long-held aim to offer the parents and children of Frome the opportunity to borrow from their toy-lending scheme on Saturdays.
In an exciting new collaboration with Share: A Library of Things (the town’s sharing shop) and commencing on Saturday 15th February, this vital, community children’s service will be present at Share on alternate weeks, to loan out their play-sacks to take home.
Toy Library director Sue Wills knows the challenges parents face. She said, “We have always been able to loan our lovely play sacks at our twice-weekly stay and play sessions but, of course, if adults work on those days then accessing this service has been quite difficult for some. We can now offer, every other Saturday, the chance for parents to collect and return toys right in the town centre, thanks to the incredible support of Share.”
Share, located on The Bridge in Frome, was started in 2015 as a partnership between, amongst others, Frome Town Council, social enterprise Edventure and Sustainable Frome. Manager, Sam Attard, is pleased to be building relationships with another community group and enabling the shop to welcome even the very youngest Frome area residents in the spirit of sharing and sustainability.
Sam said, “Naturally we know about the great work of the Toy Library and it is such a pleasure to be able to be part of this. We all know how so many toys are played with and discarded too quickly; the Toy Library lending is a very low-waste, eco-friendly service and as well as offering children new toys twice a month, it helps keep houses from piling up with more toys which do seem to take over a home sometimes!”
The choice of toys available to take home can be seen on the Toy Library’s Facebook page as well as via sister company, the Frome Children’s Festival , website. The system requires toys to be booked in advance of Saturday collection and in order to book and borrow take-home toys, people need to be a member of the Toy Library. Existing members can select and book their play-sacks now and anyone wishing to join as a new member can do that easily online (or at a weekday play session). Annual membership costs just £20, but the organisers would like to remind everyone that, throughout February, free membership is available to all families in receipt o benefit.
Sue Willis explains, “As this is still a pilot scheme we are offering the lending service every other Saturday to start with. All the dates, and, for now, the method of booking your chosen toys is only via the Facebook page. The Toy Library is currently in an exciting time of change and growth, with more news to come soon, so we are open to hearing from any local businesses and business people who are keen to offer their services and skills to help us – as well as new sponsors who can help us to continue to grow into 2020 and beyond.”
The Toy Library Saturday service opens 15th February at Share, 3a The Bridge. Interested families should contact the Toy Library in advance via www.fromechildrensfestival.org on Facebook at @FromeToyLibrary or email sue@fromechildrens festival.org
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