“We believe play really matters.”
Shepshed Toy Library held its first session on Friday 5th
September 1984 at the Community Centre. These sessions,
aimed at preschoolers, children with special needs and their
carers, lasting a couple of hours, took place on alternate
weeks.
June 1986 saw the relaunch as a Community Toy Library,
aiming at a broader audience. Sessions were held twice
weekly, including Saturdays. Membership expanded rapidly
with over 120 families making use of the services offered.
Part of this wider inclusion of the community came through
the support of health professionals including speech
therapists, educational psychologists and physiotherapists.
They were able to refer families to the Toy Library where
they could access specialist play equipment and advice from
staff. There were also a couple of highly skilled volunteers
who could design and produce toys to meet specialist
requirements.
In the early 1990s, the Toy Library was involved in
providing an outreach service at Coalville Health Centre, and
at Ashmount School in Loughborough. Letters in the archive
acknowledge how valued this service was.
As the Library's collection of toys grew and membership
expanded to include people from many of the surrounding
villages and towns, the need for a larger, permanent
premise became more pressing. There were real concerns
about the safety of volunteers who had to retrieve and return
toys to the loft for each session, and also damage to the
stock.
After much planning and fund raising the move to the Hind
Leys Campus took place, with the premises being opened in
1993. Leicestershire County Council made a double mobile
classroom available for a small rent. This made a huge
difference. Proper storage space meant that users and
volunteers could view toys easily. A dedicated playroom was
a big hit with the children. Toys could be displayed, and
there was plenty of space for arts and craft sessions. A coffee
bar providing drinks and snacks for carers and children. This
was a great opportunity for adults and children to get to
know one another.
In 2000 a craft shop was added to the playroom. Lots of
different bits and pieces can be purchased at very reasonable
prices. Children can then continue at home with ideas they
have picked up in play sessions.
Everything the Toy Library strives to requires funding.
Looking through the archive, it is clear this has always been
a big concern. When an annual grant from the County
Council, which for 18 years and covered salaries and running
costs, ceased it 2008, fund raising became a top priority.
There is a constant need to be applying for grants, and
thinking of new fund raising ideas. In recent years the Toy
Library has received funding from charities and local
businesses.
