Toy library fighting to stay open after funding cut

A free toy library struggling to stay open due to funding cuts says it is exploring other options to keep its doors open to families.

Community Playlink - which has been running for over 50 years - has been partly funded by a grant from Southampton City Council of £27,000, with the remaining £18,000 met though additional support.

But the council said it was now unable to renew the grant to the toy library service as it had become "less sustainable in recent years".

Set up in 1974, the library has started crowdfunding so it can stay open while it seeks more permanent forms of income. The charity said it was also looking at moving to temporary hours.

Lorraine Pugh, trustee, said: "The council says we are not sustainable... it's devastating. We are providing a vital service."

She added that the charity had already had to serve notice on its staff at Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre but "they had offered to work for free as volunteers while we look for funding".

A decision on the toy library moving to temporary hours will be made by trustees at the charity on 12 January.

Community Playlink also runs weekly playtime sessions and supports toddler groups and early years settings across Southampton with toys, including six council family hubs and seven schools.

A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: "It is with regret that we are unable to renew the grant to the Community Playlink toy library service, as it has become less sustainable in recent years.

"We shall be working with Community Playlink to help redistribute the toys to expand toy libraries at our family hubs citywide and donate to local toddler groups.

"This approach will help to ensure families will continue to access toys."

It said it was also starting a new play session at the family hub on Honeysuckle Road.

The library provides toys for families with children under 14 alongside staffed play sessions. About 3,500 toys are borrowed every month.

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