Toy sharing service needs community backing

Visit from the Stork CIC, based in Pendleton, wants to launch ‘That Toy Thing’, an affordable and sustainable toy sharing service for families in Greater Manchester.

The aim is to ensure that all families have access to good quality toys, whilst also saving the planet from some of the thousands of toys that go to landfill each year.

And they need the community’s help with a crowdfunding campaign to try and raise £10,000 in order to pilot the project, before launching on a bigger scale.

Co-founder of the project Kimberly Bond, who is currently studying for an MBA at the University of Salford, said: “We were inspired to do this project after we learned that thousands of toys were going to landfill each year, and that on average children have up to 4 toys that have never been played with – that’s a LOT of toys that can be re-used.

“Our idea is simple – we will collect donations of good quality pre-loved toys from parents and carers in Salford and Greater Manchester, clean them up, and hire them out to families at different subscription levels.”

At the end of each month, parents will be able to renew the same toys, or swap them for new ones. Toys will be delivered straight to parents doors, and it is also planned to have collection points at local businesses across Greater Manchester.

The money raised from the Crowdfunder will help pay for stock, volunteers’ expenses, storage space, promotion of the project and eco-friendly cleaning equipment.

Kimberly added: "I started planning this project at the same time as starting my MBA Apprenticeship at the University of Salford, which meant I could start applying my learning directly to the project as well as other areas of the business.

"It's fantastic to be a student again and be a social entrepreneur at the same time - the support from the university is great and networking with my peers has been really helpful too.” 

To donate to crowdfunder go to the webpage

Anyone interested can email thattoything@gmail.com or message the social media pages www.facebook.com/thattoything or www.instagram.com/thattoything.