Join The Big Toy Swap
337 million toys get purchased in the UK each year, and 80% go to waste. We want to rescue and re-home them – saving families money while protecting the environment.
🗓️ This November
🎫 50+ community run toy swaps
🧸 Thousands of toys rehomed and diverted from waste
💰 Thousands of pounds saved for families
Will you host a swap in your community?
The Big Toy Swap is proudly supported by The National Lottery Community Fund.
What next?
👉 Register interest
Anyone can host a swap! Parents, grandparents, PTAs, nurseries, toddler groups, play centres, sustainability groups, workplaces, councils, libraries etc…or just a group of friends!
👉 Get all the support
- Step-by-step guides
- Templates for everything imaginable
- Online Q&A sessions
- WhastApp community for peer support.
👉 We’ll help pack the room
We will host a directory of toy swaps taking place and will proactively promote the swaps on social media and through the press. You’ll also get templates and tips to help promote your event locally.
We’re normalising second-hand gifts and making toy swaps available to all.
Get involved
Join The Big Toy Swap as a host, or an attendee?
Leave your details, and we’ll send you more information about taking part in The Big Toy Swap as a host or an attendee!
Zero commitment at this stage!
FAQs
We go into detail on all of the questions below, and more, in our ultimate guide for toy swap hosts.
Register your interest for access to the hosts resource folder.
What are the benefits of toy swaps?
Swap events save people money and reduce waste by rehoming things that may otherwise go to waste. They are also great opportunities for community connection.
Did you know in the UK we buy 337 million toys each year? 80% of them end up in the incinerator, landfill or ocean.
That’s pretty gross – and a colossal waste! Toy swaps help give perfectly good items a new home.
Who can host an event for The Big Toy Swap?
Anyone! Whether you want to run a swap with a group of friends – or organise one as part of an organisation or group (for example as a PTA, toddler group, at work, church, nursery, sustainability network…the list goes on!)
What support will hosts get?
Think of us as the air cover – you’re the boots on the ground!
You’ll have access to our detailed step-by-step guides and templates to save you time. Plus, group calls and a WhatsApp group for Q&A. We’ll also run a campaign to encourage people to attend their local swap.
You’ll be responsible for actually making the event happen in your community.
How much work is it to run a swap?
It depends…if you already have a venue, a captive audience and don’t plan to ask people to sign up, it will be less work than if you need to find a venue, ask people to register and have to work harder to promote it!
You can keep it simple to minimise the work (we can advise on this).
Plan for at least 7-12 hours over three months.
How to cover costs
There is no cost to use any of the resources and support from us.
Potential costs you will need to consider are for venue hire and refreshments (you may be able to get these for free).
You could also charge a small fee for entry, run a raffle on the day, ask a local business to sponsor, sell refreshments or have a donation bucket.
Where can I host my swap?
It depends…if you already have a venue, a captive audience and don’t plan to ask people to sign up, it will be less work than if you need to find a venue, ask people to register and have to work harder to promote it!
You can keep it simple to minimise the work (we can advise on this).
Plan for at least 7-12 hours over three months.
Should I ask people to sign up, or just let them turn up?
It depends…if you already have a venue, a captive audience and don’t plan to ask people to sign up, it will be less work than if you need to find a venue, ask people to register and have to work harder to promote it!
You can keep it simple to minimise the work (we can advise on this).
Plan for at least 7-12 hours over three months.
Is it one-for-one swapping?
You could use a tokens system, but this can become a headache and extra effort to organise and manage.
We recommend “bring what you can, take what you need, don’t take the piss!” (you can leave the last bit off!)
What if people take too much?
In our experience, this doesn’t really happen. People are respectful; spreading stock and having a browsing period before people can take anything can help to avoid anyone arriving early and getting all the best stuff.
And, just because someone has taken a lot doesn’t mean they’re up to anything shady…this could be seriously saving their bacon by sorting their gifts for family this year.
What items can we accept?
In our experience, this doesn’t really happen. People are respectful; spreading stock and having a browsing period before people can take anything can help to avoid anyone arriving early and getting all the best stuff.
And, just because someone has taken a lot doesn’t mean they’re up to anything shady…this could be seriously saving their bacon by sorting their gifts for family this year.
Should we collect toys in advance?
In our experience, this doesn’t really happen. People are respectful; spreading stock and having a browsing period before people can take anything can help to avoid anyone arriving early and getting all the best stuff.
And, just because someone has taken a lot doesn’t mean they’re up to anything shady…this could be seriously saving their bacon by sorting their gifts for family this year.
I host a swap already, why should I register?
We will create a directory of toy swaps – and be heavily promoting them on social media and through PR activity. By registering your event you’ll gain more visibility and attendance – and help to encourage others to join in!
I don't want to host - but would like to help
Core items: toys, games, puzzles, children’s books.
You could expand to clothes, fancy dress, or grown-ups’ books – but avoid large/bulky items like car seats and prams, which are hard to store or rehome afterwards – and as safety items carry greater risk.
I don't want to host - but would like to go to a swap
Amazing! Register your interest in attending and we will let you know when we start getting events booked in.
Can PTAs & other orgs do this to raise funds?
Yes! You can use a toy swap event to raise fund for your own cause, whether that’s a PTA or another organisation.
