Join the fun at Broadland’s Summer Toy and Game Swap!

The event will take place on Tuesday 29 July at Aylsham Town Hall, and invites local residents to bring along unwanted, pre-loved or outgrown toys, books, and games to swap with others.

Families are encouraged to come along to the event to explore the swap zones and pick out items they’ll love, updating their children’s toyboxes in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.

The event will take place on Tuesday 29 July at Aylsham Town hall between 12pm and 2:30pm:

• Between 12pm and 1pm: residents can bring up to 5 unwanted items in exchange for tokens
• From 1pm until 2.30pm: the toy and games swap will open for residents to use their tokens to exchange for new-to-them toys and games.

To ensure a high-quality and enjoyable experience for all, residents are asked to follow the toy and game swap guidelines:

• All donated toys must be in good condition, clean and well looked after
• No mains powered electrical items will be accepted (as they cannot be PAT tested on site) - however toys with batteries can be accepted
• No broken or dirty items
• Bring along up to 5 toys to swap
• No large outdoor play equipment such as wendy houses or garden climbing frames (due to space restrictions).

Whether you’re having a summer clear out or hunting for a new rainy-day favourite, there’s something for everyone. Toys and games will also be arranged into the following zones to make browsing easy and enjoyable:

• Baby and toddler toys
• Board games
• Building toys
• Toys for older children

Separately, there will be a zone dedicated to clothes where local residents can swap good quality children's clothes, including unwanted school uniforms or fancy dress outfits. Residents do not need tokens for the clothes swap. The event will also feature a craft zone, where children can get hands-on with eco-friendly, creative activities, the perfect way to keep the summer holiday boredom at bay while sparking imagination and sustainability. Any toys and games left after the event will be recycled or donated to charity.

Duncan McBurney, Contract Manager at Veolia, said:

“This event is a fantastic way for Broadland’s youngest residents to get involved with sustainability by giving pre-loved toys and games a new life. This event extends our sustainability efforts beyond delivering essential recycling and waste collection and street cleansing services by helping residents embrace reuse, which is even better for the planet than recycling.”

Councillor Jan Davis, Broadland Portfolio Holder for Environmental Excellence, said:

“We all know that times are difficult with new clothes, toys and books falling down the list of priorities for many families. This event allows people to swap clothes their children have grown out of and replace toys and books for those that are more age appropriate as children get older. This is a fantastic example of reuse and recycle that not only benefits our residents, but also our environment.”