Opportunies within the Toy Library

Our new company has two volunteer positions - are you able to help?

Shepshed Toy Library has been operating as a trustee led charity for nearly 30 years. It has recently become an incorporated charity and is looking for some support for the toy library coordinator and directors in keeping company finance records, documentation of meetings and other correspondence.

The first role is for a company secretary / administrator whose role will include the following (not exhaustive) duties -
  - Attendance at termly committee meetings to take minutes and circulate
- Prepare regular press releases to local newspapers and magazines to advertise and promote the toy library
- Assist with the completion of the quality assurance programme ensuring policies and procedures are updated to reflect changes in legislation
- Attend training / workshops on aspects of volunteering as required
- Assist in the preparation of grant applications needed to generate income for the library to operate.
- Work closely with the toy library coordinator to maintain documentation / membership records
- Update and maintain social media sites including Facebook / Twitter / Blogspot .

The person would require the following skills
 -  a knowledge of computer systems including Word, Excel, use of the internet and social media sites. They must have a proven competence in English (both spoken and written) - ideally to Grade C GCSE.

The role will probably be represented by one day a week at the toy library with maybe some work at home - around 4 - 5 hours per week.

The second role is a Finance Officer whose duties will include the following (not exhaustive) -
- Monthly bank reconciliations
- Monthly petty cash analysis and balancing
- Monthly RTI submissions to HMRC (using HMRC toolkit)
- Monthly receipts and payments analysis against budget
- Preparation of Annual Accounts (subject to independent review)
- Annual submissions to Charities Commission and Companies House (Annual turnover below £15K) - Attendance at termly committee meetings providing finance updates
- Annual budget setting with co-ordinator and committee
There may also be opportunities to become involved in the preparation of grant applications needed to generate income for the library to operate.

Currently our Senior Toy Library coordinator is doing all the financial records for the toy library and this needs an independent verifyer.

The post holder will need a knowledge of small company bookkeeping procedures. Proven qualification in mathematics (Grade C GCSE (or equiv) min). Competent in use of Excel spreadsheets. Some knowledge of HMRC payroll procedures. The role will most likely be home based with occasional visits to the toy library, so access to internet and e mail is essential. It will probably amount to about one hour per month plus attending meetings.

If anyone is interested or you know someone who might be - let them know - and come and have a chat.

ALL CHANGE BUT EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME!

Shepshed Community Toy Library Special General Meeting Tuesday 18th March 2014 7.30pm Information for members Dear Member We would like to thank you for your continued support in using the Shepshed Toy Library over the last year. At the AGM last year the Committee and those present voted to convert the toy library from an unincorporated charity into a charity incorporated and limited by guarantee. Some of the existing committee members are moving forward to act as Directors of the new company and would like to invite you to the Special General Meeting detailed above in order to gain agreement to transfer the assets and liabilities of the existing toy library to the new company to take effect from 1st April 2014. In reality nothing will change in terms of service, personnel, fees and charges and the provision we offer. However, by moving forward to this new status it will allow the toy library to update or acquire new premises and move the service forward. The meeting will look for toy library members to vote – with one vote per family or group membership – on the proposal and the company documents may be examined. The Directors will also welcome any new comers to the committee (with no liability) to help in these changing times. Please make your intentions known even if you are unable to attend the meeting. Many thanks for your support. Agenda To agree the dissolution of Shepshed Community Toy Library and the transfer of assets to Shepshed Toy Library (Company Limited by Guarantee). Shepshed Toy Library Hind Leys Campus Forest Street Shepshed LE12 9DB RSVP – 14th March 2014 - shepshedtoylib@tiscali.co.uk / 01509 601146 Directors – Shepshed Toy Library Louise Bowles Sharon Ellis Tracey Clarke Committee members Nicola Williams Barbara Blanchard

UPDATED NEARLY NEW GUIDELINES - 2013

 

NEARLY NEW SALE - SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH 2013

Shepshed Toy Library are pleased to announce their

second annual

Nearly New Sale

on

Saturday September 14th 2013

at Shepshed Toy Library, Hind Leys Campus

Children growing up fast – toys, games and clothes you no longer need? Can’t be bothered with ebay or car boot sales? Then come along to the Nearly New Sale at Shepshed Toy Library – register as a seller and take the hassle out of moving stuff on – and reap the rewards. Full information below!

• People interested in selling at the sale should contact the Toy Library – 01509 601146 or email shepshedtoylib@tiscali.co.uk for a sellers pack.

• Leave name, telephone number and e mail address for contact.

• Sellers pack £2 (cash or cheque payable to Shepshed Toy Library) to cover our administration cost & Stamped Addressed Envelope to receive your sale proceeds after the event (Your admin fee will be deducted from your sales proceeds if not paid in advance)

• You will receive a guidance sheet, sellers sheet and set of sticky labels - max 30 items per seller

• Percentage commission – 40% to toy library 60% to seller

• Emphasis on toys and games for sale – any clothes must be on hangers

• All items to be good quality / toys and games complete no pieces missing

• Sellers will be issued with a unique number and use this for labelling up items.

• Sellers can deposit items from 9am, sale will open from 11 – 2pm.

• Unsold items to be collected by 4pm

• Any remaining items will be accepted as donations to the Toy Library to either add to Toy Library stock or pass to other charitable organisations.

• Sticky labels will be removed from items as proof of sale and totalled up on the day.

• Cheques will be issued to sellers within 7 days of the event.

Nothing to sell this time?

Come along to pick up some bargains instead!

Saturday 14th September – doors open at 11am.

Thank you for your support

Still unsure - see below for our sellers guidance notes to help you decide.

Sellers Guidance

What can I sell?

You can sell baby and children’s wear (up to aged ten), maternity wear (not oversized ladies wear!), equipment, books and toys.

Clothes:

Each item sold counts towards one of your 30 items so it is best to bundle up babygrows and smaller items. We will only sell items that are of new or nearly new quality, and are clean and in good condition. Remember, this is not a jumble sale – dirty/worn-out goods will be rejected.

Toys:

Toys and puzzles must be complete. Any loose parts should be securely attached. Seal puzzles in clear plastic bag. Toys with batteries sell better if batteries are included.

Equipment:

Equipment items sell better and for more if instructions (and if you have them, guarantees) are included. Be especially careful if selling stair gates, fireguards, barriers and bed guards. These must have all the correct fittings and have no gaps where it would be possible for a baby to get its head stuck. Please include any instructions for use. (These can be duplicates downloaded from manufacturer’s website.) These, together with the fittings, should be securely attached in a separate bag.

Door bouncers, sit in activity centres and baby walkers can also be sold. To minimise the risk of accidents please ensure that door bouncers are sold with assembly instructions including a weight limit. Second hand mattresses can be sold providing they have a waterproof cover (eg. PVC) with no tears, cracks or holes.

Is there anything I can’t sell at the sale?

• Car seats

• Door bouncers (without assembly instructions and weight limit)

• Breast pumps

• Dummies

• Baby bottles

• Anything with a teat

• Baby food & formula milk

• Riding hats/crash helmets / bicycle helmets

• Hand-knitted toys

• Clothes with a drawstring around the neck

• Mains powered electrical equipment

Can I sell my pushchair?

We can sell pushchairs with or without instructions. Obviously, pushchairs with instructions sell better so if you do have them, please attach these or you can try downloading them from the manufacturers’ website.

I have a baby sling to sell – can I sell it?

Yes, but bag -style slings can’t be sold. They are the ones with a deep pouch and an elasticated edge. Whilst these products have not been recalled, they may cause breathing difficulties in young babies. The brands and products which cannot be accepted are:

Infantino sling ride Premaxx baby bag

Munchkin cargo sling Boppy carry in comfort

Lamaze close comfort Wendy Bellissimo sling

How do I make sure I don’t over or under price my items?

The guidelines are that you prices at 20-25% of the original selling price of the item you are selling. Below are some guidelines which may help you.

Please try not to overprice your items otherwise you may be surprised with the number of unsold items you are left with (particularly clothes).

Ask yourself: a) Would I buy it? b) How much would I pay? c) Do I ever want to see this again?

Clothes (according to brand and quality)

Babygrows 50p–£1.50 Shirts £1–£3 Cardigans/jumpers £1.50-£3 Dresses £2-£4

Trousers/skirts £1.50-£3; Jackets £4-£5 Pram suits £2-£4 Shorts/T-shirts 50p-£2

Socks & vests (eg 5 pairs) £1-£2 Slippers & wellies £1-£3 Swimwear £1-£2.50 Grobags £5-£10

Toys

Activity centres £2-£6 Baby gyms £2-£6 Books 50p-£2 Large Dolls £2-£5

Large Cars £2-£4 Jigsaws/Board games 50p – £2 Ride on toys (inc. bikes/scoters) £5 DVDS £1-£2

Equipment

High chairs £10+ Strollers £10+ Pushchairs with accessories £20+ Moses Baskets £8+

Travel cots £20 Cots £15 Booster seats £5 - £10 Safety gates £10+

Slings £7-£15 Backpacks £10-£30 Bedguards £5+

How do I label my items?

Only use the labels sent to you for this sale and do not exceed the maximum (30 items)

Complete the label as follows:

NO: Your Unique Seller Number for this sale

Description :Short description to help any queries (eg book / DVD / skirt)

PRICE : Realistic prices in multiples of 10p only

DONATION : If you do not wish to collect your unsold items mark a D on your ticket


• Attach the whole label securely.

• Where possible please use hangers for clothes. Smaller items may be placed in clear plastic bags.

• Items with no labels cannot be sold. Any items that don’t have a label will be placed on one side for collection at the end of the sale.

• Please consider sellotaping or cling filming toys that have many pieces together to ensure it stays as one item.

• Please do not label or sort through your items on the day – please ensure they are all labelled and bundled correctly before the day of the sale.

• To help you to monitor your items for sale, we have enclosed a list which we advise you to complete to record items/prices.

• It helps if you can use clearly labelled boxes (Name & seller number) (and not bags) to bring in your items. Any unsold items can then be quickly sorted and returned to you.

Please promote the sale – tell all your friends and ask for a poster for your child’s nursery / school or preschool. The more people that know the better the chance of your items selling!

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE & MOTHER

Extract from a 1950's High School home economics textbook ...

Have dinner ready - plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time.  This is the way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself - Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh- looking.  He has just been with a lot of work -weary people.  Be a little gay and a little more interesting.  His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter - Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper etc.  Then run a dust cloth over the tables.  Your  husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.

Prepare the children - Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary , change their clothes.  They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimise all noise - At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum.  Try to encourage the children to be quiet.  Be happy to see him.  Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.

Some don'ts - don't greet him with problems or complaints.  Don't complain if he is late for dinner.  Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable - Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom.  Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.  Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice.  Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him - You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first.

Make the evening his - never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment.  Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.


.... OK enough of that back to the real world!!!!

HOW CHILDREN LEARN ...

If a child lives with criticism - she learns to condemn

If a child lives with hostility - she learns to fight

If a child lives with ridicule - she learns to be shy

If a child lives with shame - she learns to feel guilt

If a child lives with tolerance - she learns to be patient

If a child lives with encouragement - she learns to be confident

If a child lives with praise - she learns to appreciate

If a child lives with fairness - she learns justice

If a child lives with security - she learns to have faith

If a child lives with approval - she learns to like herself

If a child lives with acceptance - she learns to have friendship

If you love yourself - you can love others,

(Author unknown)

TOOK HIS HAND

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed
I took his hand and followed
Where eager footsteps led.

Oh yes we went adventuring
My little son and I
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded through a crystal stream
We wandered through a wood
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was bright and good

We watched a robin feed her young
We climbed a sun-lit hill
Saw cloud sheep scamper through the sky
We plucked a daffodil

That my house was neglected
That I didn't brush the stair
In twenty years no-one on earth
Will know or even care

But that I've helped my little son
To noble manhood grow
In twenty years the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Summer Term Update

Our trip around the world has provided some focus to our play sessions and has been great fun learning a bit about flags, costume, animals and food from the various countries we have visited.

Several regular users have benefited from completing their passports and have been able to borrow a "Play & Share" sack of their choice for free.  Some lovely comments from parents and carers about how wonderful the sacks are in keeping the children occupied and having more surprises as they dig to the depths of the bag.

The term is quickly coming to a close with our last session on July 12th.

We have been successful in gaining funding to support running extra sessions in the summer so will be open for the weeks of 29th July and 19th August for our normal opening hours - Mon / Wed / Fri 9.30 - 12.00 and the Thursday evening of both weeks (1st & 22nd August) from 6.30 - 7.30pm.  Please come along to play - charge of £1 per child to include a drink and craft activity of their choice.
We will hopefully have indoor and outdoor activities to suit ages 0 - 11 years.  The toy lending library will be open as usual during these sessions.

The toy lending library has had a good shake up with old toys being removed / recycled and new sets compiled of our most popular construction toys.  We were successful at some local toy sales and have replenished our games / fine motor skills and jigsaw stocks. 

Grant money has also allowed us to purchase some more outdoor toys including our most popular house brick sets.  Both currently available to borrow!

Our outreach work is expanding with regular monthly visit to Refuel in Hathern and support to other toddler groups and pre schools on a termly basis.  Do get involved - if you want us to visit your setting or hold a childminding group / parent group in the toy library outside our normal hours then anything is possible.  Musical Bumps have been regular users of the toy library on a Saturday morning.

We look forward to next term and a new academic year where we are looking to progress even further with your support.  If anyone finds themselves at a loose end with children starting school there is scope for more volunteers to come and give us a hand - either playing with the children / running the cafe / checking and sorting toys or helping out with Outreach visits all help is gratefully received.

Many thanks from all staff, committee and volunteers at the Toy Library for your support this term.