I am really pleased to introduce the South Bristol Toy Library, a volunteer-led community resource for children and their parents and carers.

A charity venture, the South Bristol Toy Library will be open every Friday 2 – 4pm during term-time at the Oasis Academy on Marksbury Road, BS3 5JL.

There will be lots of play resources available and a free space where children can explore play ideas for themselves and perhaps try something they always wanted to.

The aim of the toy library is to empower parents, carers and grandparents to choose, swap and use various toys or play resources for their children as they grow and to promote children’s development through play.

The toy library will also save waste and provide a local parents and carers with the shared resource of a wide range of good quality toys for all of its children to access.

The library will have a catalogued selection of toys and a paid membership with modest hire fees enabling members to borrow a changing variety of toys for growing children as well as larger toys they might not otherwise be able to buy.

As the Oasis Academy venue will be closing over the Summer holidays, following the session on Friday 15th July, over the Summer the toy library will operate from United Reformed Church Hall (corner of Stanley Street South and West Street, Bedminster) on Tuesday mornings from 10am – 12 noon (Tuesday 26th July, 9th and 23rd August).

Then from Tuesday 6th and Friday 9th September, the South Bristol Toy Library will also run on Tuesday mornings from 10am – 12 noon from West Street as well as 2 – 4pm on Friday afternoons from Marksbury Road.

If you are interested in getting involved in the South Bristol Toy Library in any way, from being a librarian to creating part of the committee or fundraising, please email southbristoylibrary@gmail.com.

Donations of toys in good condition will be gratefully received by the library.

You can find out more about the South Bristol Toy Library by visiting: http://www.southbristoltoylibrary.co.uk/