Happy New Year!
Firstly, a big thank you to those who generously donated prizes for the Christmas raffle and to our Christmas Grotto sponsors, God’s Own Junkyard and Estates 17. Santa did not disappoint at our popular grotto and our sell-out Christmas party provided lots of festive fun.
2015 was a fabulous year for the Toy Library. We celebrated our 40th anniversary and won the Time Out Love London Award for best cultural venue in Walthamstow. Thank you to everyone who voted for us! Due to the hard work of staff and volunteers, we received grants of £1,000 each from NISA, the Cutlers Trust and – through an exciting Twitter and Facebook campaign – the Starbucks RedCupCheer initiative. The money raised will be used to support free membership and reduced session fees for low-income families, training for volunteers in food safety and paediatric first aid courses.
As the year drew to a close, we said goodbye to valued volunteer committee members Claire Young, Kiren Mitra-Hawksbee, Simon Aronson and Ronnie Chavez-Acosta. Thanks for all your hard work and support over the year. We’re delighted to welcome our new members.
The Toy Library receives no regular funding, so relies on fundraising events and the dedication of volunteers to keep going. There are lots of ways you can help, from volunteering at play sessions to recycling your old mobile phone or ink cartridges through recycle4charity.
Toy loans
One of our aims for 2016 is to expand our collection of toys available for hire to members. If there’s anything you think we’re missing, let us know!
Dates for your diary
If you’ve got books your children have finished with, then bring them along to the Toy Library on Saturday 13th February and trade them in for new ones! We’re one of the venues for the London Children’s Book Swap – visit their Facebook page for more information on this exciting event for budding bookworms.
Groups at the Toy Library and Play Centre
Twins Group
Friendship, support and practical advice for parents, carers and parents-to-be.
Fri 1.30–3.30pm.
Toy Library membership and entrance fees apply (£5 annual membership, free for families in receipts of benefits; £2.50 per session for first child, 50p for additional children; £1.50 for families in receipts of benefits).
Yoga with Melissa Gaul
Mon 1–2pm, 11th, 25th Jan; 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd Feb.
Contact Melissa on 07793 394 531 or email melissagaul.walker@gmail.com to book a place.
Tiny Time Music with Anita
Creative music-making for 0–3-year-olds.
Mon 2.30–3.30pm.
Pay on the door: £6 for the first child, £9 for two children.
Art Tots with Lemon Art Lab
Art history adventures for under 5s, with a different theme each week.
Thur 4–5pm 14th, 21st, 28th Jan; 4th Feb.
£6 per child online, £8 per child on the door. Advance booking recommended.
Planning a birthday party?
The Toy Library is available for party hire at very reasonable rates and makes the perfect venue for a children’s party – please see our website for further details.
www.walthamstowtoylibrary.org
If you have any ideas for how we could improve our website, we’d love to hear from you! Please add your suggestions to the box by the tea and coffee.
Finally, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @e17toylibrary!
