For the fourth year, a Toy Swap will be run in Kendal this month, as a way of parents exchanging previously loved toys – helping them find Christmas gifts without spending money.
Mum of two Kate has used the Toy Swap in the past and will be there again this year. “It works out really well because I can have a good clear out in time for Christmas and then get a bunch of toys for the kids. Obviously getting free or next to free toys is great, especially at the moment with the cost of living.”
The event was set up by Charlotte Mason-Curl from Kendal. “People are really grateful, because they're getting all of their kids' Christmas gifts, or lots of them, all in one go, and not spending any money. And I honestly don't think you can ask for better than that.”
She started the Toy Swap because of environmental concerns. “We have so much stuff in this world, there are so many toys being produced every year, and when we get rid of things, they're either being incinerated or going to landfill. So we don't need new stuff. We can just use what we have and re-home it so that these lovely toys get to have a new life with a new child.”
Her two young children are used to receiving second-hand gifts. “It does not even cross their minds, that's just normal to them, and that's how I want to raise them. And I think the more we can normalise that, the better, because our children are growing up in this world where the environment isn't in the best shape, and we need to teach them how to be more conscious about all of that.”
This year’s Toy Swap will take place in The Eddington, the sustainability hub off Highgate in Kendal on Wednesday 26th November from 7pm. Tickets cost £5 and include festive drinks and cake from Waste into Wellbeing. There are a number of tickets for £1 for low income families: please contact the organisers via email hello@nocrapparties.org for the code for a £1 ticket. The event includes a raffle, and has been supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Kendal Parent Network, with drinks provided by Fell Brewery and Lakes Soda.
Councillor Giles Archibald, the Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, has welcomed the Toy Swap. “This is a great example of our community showing initiative to help tackle needless waste, and is being hosted at The Eddington, a centre that was set up to provide a venue for events of this kind. The fact that this Toy Swap also helps those families who are struggling with the ongoing Cost of Living crisis is a wonderful bonus!”
Tickets should be booked online at https://events.humanitix.com/kendal-toy-swap-2025
There is a video about the Toy Swap on our YouTube channel.