Cost of living: Charity has donated unwanted toys to 3000 children
A toy charity in Caerphilly that collects unwanted toys and donates them to children in need across the Valleys, has saved 9000kg of plastic from landfill and provided 3000 children with toys in two years.
The Toybox project, which was established by father of three, James Morgan in 2021, is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. Its Bedwas based warehouse currently takes in around 200-300kg of unwanted toys every week. The toys are cleaned, checked, and put on display in the warehouse ready for collection by teachers, health visitors, nurses, and social workers. They are then donated to low-income families.
GP Practice Manager, James Morgan, 39, said: “More than 90% of all toys are made from hard plastic which cannot be recycled in the general household waste. Many toys such as building blocks, role play sets, dolls and action figures are timeless. If they are not broken or worn, they can be passed on and enjoyed by another generation of children, rather than going into landfill, where they will remain for thousands of years.”
“I grew up in a single-parent family where I had very few toys, so I know how it feels to have nothing. So rather than throw toys away, we want to encourage people to bring them to us so we can rehome them.”
Victoria Forsey, Health Visitor said: “Toys play a vital role in a child’s development, but I visit many families where they have very few toys. The Toybox project is fantastic. My families are always so grateful for the toys’.”
Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change said: “Initiatives like The Toybox Project are a brilliant idea. It’s a great example of people taking action locally to help reduce their impact on the climate.
“If everyone across Wales could do their bit by reusing unwanted toys, rather than throwing them away, it would make a huge difference to the amount of waste ending up in landfill each year. It will also go a long way to helping us to create a greener, cleaner Wales.”
Toybox Project also works in conjunction with Create Caerphilly to recycle incomplete games or puzzles for arts and crafts; with Repair Café Wales to repair any broken electrical or wooden toys; and with Sauring Supersaurus to recycle plastic toys that are broken beyond repair into jewellery and household items.
For ways you can take action on climate change visit climateaction.gov.wales
