About
Our mission is to provide safe, creative spaces for children and their adults to play, learn and interact and loan high quality toys which don’t cost the Earth.
Eight aims underpin our mission. These are to:
Support children to learn and develop and prepare for the next stage of their educational journey by learning through play.
Promote bonding and attachment between children and their parents or carers.
Reduce isolation and help parents to develop supportive social networks.
Promote the health and well-being of children and families
Provide volunteering opportunities and work experience to students and local residents.
Enable access to our services from all sections of our local community particularly those on a low income.
Represent the aims and interests of our members.
Promote the ethos of
reduce, reuse, recycle.
Our Team
The Toy Library is run by a volunteer board of trustees, all are local parents and carers and have been or are users of our services. They are elected at the AGM, which is open to all members to attend. We also have a dedicated staff team and regular volunteers who support all aspects of our work.
CEO:
Helen Crockford
Helen has worked in education for over 25 years and has an MSc in Education for Sustainability and a PGCE in Secondary Science. She volunteered for the charity when her children were small. “The Toy Library is such a special place, for both people and planet, there’s nowhere else like it. I grew up by the seaside, so my favourite activity is the sand pit, with lots of loose parts – sticks, shells, pebbles, feathers and a bucket and spade”.
Leytonstone Operations Manager:
Alyshia Evans
Alyshia has worked in early years education for over 20 years and has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies. “I love the community spirit at the toy library, it's wonderful to see children and parents make friends and share their experiences. I love all our outdoor sports equipment, basket balls, hula hoops, quoits, you name it we have it!
Walthamstow Operations Manager:
Roushka Boyd
Roushka has a Business Management Degree and spent almost 20 years in the corporate sector. Motherhood inspired her to retrain as a Children's Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and she has also worked in schools as a Learning Support Assistant with SEND children. “I love working at the Toy Library because it gives me a sense of community. My favourite activities are puzzles and crafts”.
Play Worker:
Lesley Palmer
Lesley has an MA in Public Art and Design, Practice and Theory from Chelsea College of Arts. She set up her arts charity Scribble & Smudge at the Toy Library and delivers community arts projects in Waltham Forest and across London. “I love meeting families and watching the children learn and grow. My favourite toys are anything cause and effect, such as a drainpipe and stand with balls or cars. Hours of low cost fun!”.
Session Support Worker:
Gemma Loky
Gemma started as a volunteer. She was so brilliant we gave her a job. “The Toy Library is an important place to me, it helped me navigate my way through some difficult times and has impacted my life so positively. The opportunities that it offers young volunteers is great, from food safety training to paediatric first aid and the team are so supportive. My favourite toys are the small world toys, such as wild animals, dinosaurs and farm animals; combined with a tuff tray, there’s lots of possibilities”.
Play Worker:
Shamsa Tahir
Shamsa started volunteering at the Toy Library whilst studying for a Level 2 in Childcare, she also has a Level 3 in Play Work. “I love working at the Toy Library, I enjoy meeting families and children, building relationships with them and giving advice if needed. My favourite toys are the musical ones and I love messy play, the messier the better”.
Play Worker:
Noreen Akram
Noreen started as a volunteer at the Toy Library. She has a Level 3 in SEND Childcare and is currently studying towards a Level 3 Diploma in Teaching and Learning. “I love working at the Toy Library and supporting families and young children in our community. My favourite toys are Happyland sets, there’s lots of imaginative play for children setting up different scenarios and I also enjoy painting”.
Play Worker:
Lisa Thomas
Lisa has over 20 years of early years education experience and has a BSc (Hons) degree in Child Psychology. “I love watching the development of the children who come regularly and share in the parent’s pride at their children’s achievements. My favourite toys are construction toys such as Magnatiles, they are open ended, you can get really creative with them”.
Events:
Melissa Bryant
Melissa has an NVQ Level 4 in Business Management. She started volunteering at the Toy LIbrary 12 years ago when her first child was born and then joined the Board of Trustees. Her years of experience in hospitality contributes to planning events, catering for fundraising events, and generally getting involved with all the fun stuff including birthday parties and delivering toys to families. “My favourite activity is the mud kitchen. It brings back memories of when I was a kid making mud cakes in our back garden. The endless imagination of mixing potions, making dishes, and generally getting messy is such a happy sight”.
Session Support Worker:
Freda Owusu
Freda has a BA (Hons) in Public Services and Level 3 in Early Years Childcare. “I enjoy engaging with children and supporting their development. I am passionate about helping mothers and giving back to my local community. I love all the puzzles; we have a lot at both sites which I borrow for my own children!”.
Volunteering
Volunteer roles include supporting staff with the planning and delivery of play sessions, maintaining the space and equipment, gardening, event management, communications, admin and finance. We always need people to help out at play sessions, maintain the garden and equipment, create display boards or help prepare craft activities.
We also need one-off volunteers to help out at all our fundraising events, including the May Fair and Santa’s Grotto; from taking tickets, to helping on a stall or even baking cakes and biscuits. It all helps!
If you are interested in volunteering at the Toy Library, please email hello@walthamstowtoylibrary.org and include which site you would like to support.
Current Job Vacancies
Chief Executive Officer Role
After 15 remarkable years, Helen Crockford has decided to step down as the CEO of Walthamstow Toy Library. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Helen for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Helen has steered this organisation through some of its most challenging and pivotal moments – guiding us through the uncertainty of the pandemic, successfully managing more than one change of premises, and overseeing significant growth in our services and community. Her vision, commitment, and care for our community has left a lasting legacy, and we are deeply grateful for everything she has given to this organisation.
We are looking for her successor. Could it be you? You can download the application pack here.
Deadline for applications is on Monday 9th November 2026
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