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James Morgan, founder of the Toy Box Project
A Caerphilly-based scheme rehousing used and unwanted toys for disadvantaged children has received £63,300 National Lottery funding.
The Toy Box Project will use the money to bring joy to those in need this Christmas, by distributing toys to children and families who otherwise would not have any.
Set up in 2020 by father-of-three James Morgan, the community interest company (CIC) has gone from strength-to-strength.
Originally based out of James’ house, the Toy Box Project moved into a shop on Clive Street, Caerphilly in 2022, as he needed a bigger space to keep the growing number of donated toys.
Last year, it outgrew the shop and relocated to a warehouse on Bedwas House Industrial Estate.
That same year, more than 7,000 children across south Wales received toys through the volunteer-led project, while more than 60 schools partnered with the project to help distribute toys and reuse them in lessons.
“We operate year-round but demand at Christmas doubles,” James said.
“We’re juggling everything – we’re currently on target to provide toys to 1,000 kids just for this Christmas alone. We see that it means as much to parents as it does to the children.”
A volunteer helping sort toys at the Toy Box Project’s Bedwas warehouse
James, who works in the NHS, was inspired to start the scheme after hearing about the circumstances of a family of patients at the GP surgery he manages.
“It was a single mum, with a four-year-old child, and the only toys they had were a can of Coke with some rice in the bottom, and a deflated football.
“I looked at my three young boys, who were going through an astronomical amount of toys, compared to these patients down the road who had nothing. My wife and I felt we just had to go and do something.”
‘Environmentally-focused’
At any one time, up to 15,000 toys are held in the Bedwas warehouse, with thousands of kilograms worth of toys saved from landfill and distributed each week.
Louise Monico, a teacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Penalltau, is one of the more than 30 volunteers helping the project.
She said: “I came here for the school, because we had so many kids from lower-income families, and also for our additional learning needs class, because there are so many toys here that are vitally beneficial for them.
“But I was so impressed with how much the Toy Box Project helps people, and I decided I wanted to be a part of it.
“I also love how environmentally-focused the project is, because I’m an eco-person. It’s great how many toys get saved from landfill.”
‘Immeasurable’
The project is one of 245 projects across Wales receiving a share of £11 million from the National Lottery Community Fund.
John Rose, who is the Wales Director at the National Lottery Community Fund, praised the Toy Box Project’s “immeasurable” impact on families over Christmas time and said: “As a funder, we’re proud to offer grants to projects like these that support children and young people, and that help communities improve people’s lives.
“This great work is thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million every week for good causes across the UK.”
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Welsh Government
The National Lottery Community Fund