FAQ

Turn Around Toys Bexley exists to bring toys to underprivileged families in genuine need. While we operate on trust and require no proof of hardship, we want to make sure toys get to families who cannot necessarily afford to buy toys themselves.

Businesses, organisations, and community groups that provide valuable services to children in Bexley can also apply to adopt a toy. This is so that underprivileged children who use these services can also access toys. This includes but is not limited to: women’s refuges, nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes, libraries, toy banks, stay-and-play groups, community centres, and children’s hospital departments.

We ask everyone to please consider their needs before making an adoption enquiry.

When a toy is available to adopt we will post on our social media channels and send out a ‘New toy alert’ email to our subscribers. If you are not already signed up for the email alerts you can sign up online. You should then message us on Facebook or Instagram or send us an email stating which toy you’d like to adopt. Adoption requests are responded to on a first-come-first-served basis. We will then send you our adoption terms, which must be agreed to.

Toys that have needed cleaning, repairs and other restoration work are always free to adopt. Toys that are donated to us that are in great condition may be sold to help us to fund our running costs*

While adopting a restored toy doesn’t cost a penny, we do appreciate any donations. Even £1 helps!

*Our running costs include things like buying spare parts, paint, glue, batteries, cleaning products, tools and the cost of petrol for picking up toys. Our staff members are volunteers and don’t get paid.

No, unless it is clearly indicated that the toy is for sale. The majority of our toys are free and we respond to adoption requests in the order they were received. Making a donation will not guarantee you a free toy. Subscribing to our ‘New toy alerts’ is a good way to be notified quickly once a new toy is ready to go to a new home.

• Refurbished and/or second-hand toys are not going to have the same quality and safety assurances as new toys. The adopter accepts full responsibility for the safety of any child handling an adopted toy from Turn Around Toys
• Adopted toys may not be resold or used in any way for personal financial gain
• Adopter is responsible for collecting the toy from Turn Around Toys. Once a collection slot is allocated, failure to give notice of lateness or not turning up to a collection slot means that the toy will be offered to the next person
• Adopter agrees to return the toy to Turn Around Toys if it is no longer needed, so that it can be redistributed
• Adopter is subscribed to receive ‘New toy alert’ emails and may unsubscribe at any time
• Making a donation does not guarantee you a toy. If you make a donation and then don’t collect the toy, you are not entitled to a refund on your donation

Yes! If you have any toys that are in a safe and salvageable condition, you are welcome to drop them off to us, or we can arrange a collection. Message us on Facebook or Instagram or email us.

While we strive to never turn a good toy away, we only rescue toys that are in a safe and salvageable condition. We will consider toys that are in need of minor repair work, cleaning, and/or replacement parts. We avoid rescuing toys that:

• contain lead or lead-based paint
• are not BPA-free
• have small/loose parts
• could shatter or break easily
• toys that have sharp edges
• wooden toys exposed to water and damp

Yes during our core hours (9:30am to 2:30pm on Monday and Tuesday). If you have seen a forgotten toy left out on the street you can book a rescue. The toy/s should be in an easily accessible location within the London Borough of Bexley, for example, kerb side/on the pavement. We cannot collect toys that are within the boundaries of private property (unless prior permission is given) or left outside closed charity shops. We will not attend any rescues that we believe do not meet this criteria. Alternatively, we are grateful for any toys that can be dropped off to us directly.