Give old toys a new life – Donate them to Lewisham Toy Library
Did you know that children lose interest in toys after an average of just 36 days? That’s less than six weeks before many toys are forgotten, tucked away, or worse—thrown out. Each year, discarded toys contribute significantly to global waste, with up to 80% of toys ending up in landfills. Toys make up 6% of all landfill plastics, presenting an urgent need for sustainable solutions.
At the Lewisham Toy Library, we believe in play for all and pre-loved toys are treasures to us and our members. Donating your old toys to Lewisham Toy Library can give them a new life, bringing wonder to other children who don’t consider them ‘old’ at all. Donating your pre-loved toys not only reduces waste but also fosters a circular economy in our community.
Why Your Donations Matter
- Extend the Joy of Play
By donating, you allow other children to enjoy these toys, giving them a second life instead of letting them gather dust or end up in the bin. - Support Sustainability
Recycling toys is notoriously difficult, but donating them to a toy library is a great way to keep them in use. - Keep Our Collection Fresh
Donations help us maintain an exciting and varied toy collection for our members to borrow. Toys in good condition are cleaned and organised before joining our library shelves. - Provide an income to the Toy Library
Often people forget we’re a charity! We get some fantastic donations and often this means putting the older toys up for sale at pocket friendly prices at our regular Saturday toy sales to support library operations. At each sale we raise around £300 making this a really important income stream for us. - Promote the Circular Economy
Toys can bring joy to multiple families when shared. By donating, you’re actively participating in a circular economy that values reuse over disposal, reducing the environmental impact of waste.
What Can You Donate?
We accept:
✅ Toys in good working order
✅ Games and puzzles
✅ Jigsaws
✅ Musical instruments
✅ Sensory toys
✅ Transport toys
✅ Lego, duplo and any building toys
✅ Fancy dress costumes
✅ Toy kitchens
✅ Ride-ons
✅ Soft play
✅ Large party games and toys (slides, parachutes etc)
✅ Baby bouncers, walkers and jumperoos
We cannot accept:
❌ Soft toys
❌ Books
❌ Clothing
❌ Baby and toddler equipment
❌ Broken toys
How to Donate
Dropping off donations is simple—just visit the Lewisham Toy Library during opening hours.
Can’t make it into our store? Contact us via email or social media, and we may be able to arrange a collection.
If you’re outside Lewisham, check out our website for links to other toy libraries or organizations like Turnaround Toys in Bexley, which restores pre-loved toys.
Let’s ensure that every toy gets played with —again and again.
Sources: Yale Environment Review, The World Counts, Toy Libraries Australia, and The Toy Association.