Frome Toy Library is celebrating after having been given two new grants, as well as being selected by the Co-op as the Frome recipient for the Co-op ‘Local Community Fund’.
The Toy Library, which meets twice-weekly in Frome, allows all members to borrow a wide range of toys and games to take home, as well as offering stay-and-play sessions for families in a safe, nurturing environment.
Grants, sponsorships and donations are essential to the Toy Library’s survival and these gifts enable the group to ensure that toys and games are regularly renewed and new stock is added to their huge range. Children can enjoy extra toys they don’t have in their own homes, whilst parents can treat them without having to keep putting their hands in their pockets.
Local IT company, TSL, have now become one of the organisation’s sponsors for the year and South West-based charity Not Pointless, known both locally and overseas for their commitment to improving educational opportunities and advancing the learning of children and adults, have also donated a generous grant to help continue the work. It is thanks to these kind of financial donations that this valuable service can now continue over the few next months.
Managed by the Frome Children’s Festival team of organisers, the Toy Library has been running in its current form for just under a year and as it grows, there are plans to bring more creative and imaginative play events for the next year to come.
“This is great news,” say the organisers. “The key is to get new sponsors and new donors every few months to keep us going and to encourage people to join in, particularly with the Co-op scheme.”
Director of the Toy Library, Sue Willis, explains how the local people of Frome are now needed to help play their part. “We are so excited to have been chosen and the next stage is now to bring as many Frome people on board as possible,” she said. “Quite simply, any local shopper who has a Co-op membership card can sign in on-line and select a ‘cause’ of their choice. If they search under ‘Frome’ and select the Toy Library then more of the money from the Community Fund goes directly to this specific project. If you’re not a member, it is easy to sign up and we would encourage anyone who does shop there to please choose the Toy Library.
“We ask anyone who is a Co-op customer to select us as it won’t cost them anything, but the Toy Library benefits each time they shop.”
“We have a particular aim within our organisation to reach out to children with additional needs, welcoming families who can feel isolated sometimes because of this. Because children learn when they play, and they develop and practice their social skills too, the playing space and time at the library events allows them, and their parents, to make friends along the way. It is always rewarding and heart-warming to see the fun the children are having.”
In addition to the Co-op Local Community Fund, the Toy Library has been informed that they are also to receive an additional donation directly from the Co-op Bank customer donation fund, which means the plans for the spring of 2019 can begin to go ahead.
To become a member of the Toy Library and borrow items and join the sessions, simply go to the fromechildrensfestival.org website for details. If you are a local company or individual wishing to donate or sponsor, the organisers would be happy to hear from you.
