This year’s Toy Fair welcomed back KidsOut as the show’s charity partner for the end of show Trolley Dash for the sixth year. The Trolley Dash once again marked the end of a successful Toy Fair 2023, where exhibitors kindly donated 5,000 toys and games to the KidsOut volunteers roaming through the aisles with shopping trolleys. This year was a record-breaking year for KidsOut at the show, collecting the most donations from exhibitors that they’ve ever had.
KidsOut help children who have been victims of abuse and had to leave home, usually with their mum, for the safety of refuge with nothing except the clothes on their backs. The KidsOut volunteers categorise the toys into age and gender and create toy boxes to send out to the children. KidsOut sent out over 15,000 toy boxes in total in 2022, and the toys specifically donated from Toy Fair this year will help at least another 500 children.
Julian Margolin, Chief Ambassador, said: “We were once again overwhelmed by the amount of support from the toy trade at this year’s Toy Fair Trolley Dash. Over 80 volunteers were literally rushed off their feet after rolling down the aisles and back with trolleys full of donations.
“We would like to thank not only everyone in the trade but also the BTHA for their continued faith in the cause and especially to Majen Immink, Jo Lester and their teams for allowing us the opportunity as well as the unseen heroes supporting with trolleys and transport, Tesco and (DHL) Marks and Spencer.”
Majen Immink, Director of Toy Fair, said: “It has been a pleasure once again to have KidsOut as our charity partner who organise the Trolley Dash seamlessly. The work they do to bring some joy to children who need it most is truly remarkable and such a worthwhile cause, and it is great that as a show we can be a part of that. The generosity from our exhibitors each year is astounding and we are so grateful to be able to give something back to children each year, who are at the heart of our industry.”
If you are interested in volunteering or a team bonding day, get in touch with KidsOut and you could volunteer to pack toy boxes. Please email [email protected] for more information or visit www.kidsout.org.uk.
Exhibitor applications for Toy Fair 2024 will open in March on the Toy Fair website.
