They may be helping under-privileged kids
from poor backgrounds, or neglected communities, they may be in a hospice, working
with kids recently bereaved of a parent or sibling, or - as in one of the
charity's most recent interventions - they may be aiding the victims of
disaster; the Project provided toys for the survivors of the Grenfell Tower
atrocity.
Although they are 'toy' based or
toy-centred, both in the delivery and the fund-raising angles, they do also
accept donations of money or help in other ways, as any sensible charity does,
and have several corporate sponsors.
And it's not just about recycling old toys
as gifts, the monies raised through the donations, the sponsorship and the toys
sold though the shop Archway, London; also go toward funding activities like face-painting workshops in
hospitals, children's libraries, Christmas boxes, play-schemes . . . things
that most children take for granted in one of the ten wealthiest countries on Earth,
but which increasing numbers of children find themselves without.
The shop takes those toys which are perhaps
not suitable for gifting (smaller items, incomplete sets and such like),
possibly along with a portion of any bulk-donated new stock, and sells them to
raise cash which can then be used for other costs associated with the project,
books and bookshelves for a library, or outdoor play-equipment for the Grenfell
nursery - for instance.
Costs are further kept to the absolute
minimum by the charity being almost wholly staffed by volunteers, and if you
think you can help, get in touch - it's obviously London based, but they need
collection points everywhere, donors/supporters anywhere and do some work
overseas.
The
Toy Project doesn't only have corporate sponsors;
that's you-know-who, and if it's good enough for him, it's got to be good
enough for anyone!
+44 (0)7590 256 530 (from abroad)
07590 256 530 (UK)
SHOP
99 Junction Road, Archway N19 5QX
OPENING TIMES
Mon–closed
Tues–Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday–closed
The reason we were attracted to their stand
at the show was because the display was mostly figural! Papo, Schleich, stuff
which looks suspiciously like Phidel, lots of Playmobile, just the one Deetail cowboy, anonymous action
figures, it's a 'what can you spot' moment!
From these are made-up the little boxes
which are sold in the shop, there may be more on the shop in a forthcoming
issue of Plastic Warrior, of not, I'll try and get a follow-up organised for
here.
A close-up of the far end of the previous
shot, the Clanger is - I think - from a kids comic, but there are very similar
commercial play-sets so I won't commit to one or the other (hate to be
'corrected' by TJF again!), but some of them are in the queue!
This pile was less sorted, but more of the
same; it looks as if Phidel may be
responsible for a Simpsons set? And
is the other character from Futurama?
There's a Monster in My Pocket hidden
under what looks like a Papo knight, Star Wars, Sesame Street, a large sheep-dog - all sorts!
One wonders why a rich nation needs
20,000-odd registered charities, but it does, the state seems to exist only to
give the establishment a reason to expect us to provide their lifestyle needs
from our 'hard-earned', but there you go, we tolerate the situation, century
after century!
If you want to support a charity, one so
close to our various hobbies is as good a cause as any, indeed - a worthy one.
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