FAQs
About Chiltern Toy Bank
Which areas do we cover?
We cover Amersham, Chesham, Prestwood, the Chalfonts and other surrounding villages. If you live in a HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8, HP16, SL9 postcode then we cover your area.
When will donations open?
Money donations are open now and you can go to Donate with PayPal Giving Fund to donate. Donations for toys and gifts will open in Autumn, and we’ll update our website and social media pages with more details nearer the time.
When will applications open?
Applications will open in the Autumn, please check back our website and social media pages in October for specific timings. Applications will be open for approximately 3-4 weeks during the months of October & November.
Do you have any intention of expanding the area in which the charity supports?
No, at this time we only cover families within the HP5, HP6, HP7, HP8, HP16 and SL9 postcode areas.
Applying for support
How do I apply for support?
Please complete the application form that is linked on our main homepage when applications open.
Why do we need to collect information about your child? Why do you ask these questions?
So that we can make sure your gifts are as suitable for your child as possible. We will take into consideration age and your child’s areas of interest.
An organisation has suggested I apply….
We are very happy for referrals if you fall into our postcode catchment area, so please do apply.
Criteria we use to determine who we can help….
We need to make sure that the people most in need of our service can receive support. This means that we will look at the support you may already be receiving and why you feel you need support this year.
What age range do you cover?
We cover children from birth up to the age of 18.
What happens once I’ve completed my application?
Please see more information on our “Receiving support” page which tells you what to expect.
Please remember that duplicate applications (same child/children and parent/guardian, but different addresses) will not be successful.
Delivery
We aim to deliver during November and early December. This is to ensure that you don’t have to worry and can enjoy wrapping the gift/s yourself.
You will be contacted by text message to arrange delivery. Please be as flexible as possible as we are solely reliant on volunteers to deliver your toys and gifts and cannot guarantee specific days and times.
Upon delivery you will be required to sign a delivery note and acceptance that you agree to the condition of the gifts that you have been given by Chiltern Toy Bank. Once they have been delivered to you and you have accepted and signed for them Chiltern Toy Bank accepts no responsibility for them thereafter.
Can I collect?
Sorry, there is no option for you to collect.
Can you deliver to a different address?
We will only deliver to the address provided in your application form.
Wrapping paper
We will supply you with a roll of wrapping paper with your delivery and Sellotape.
Batteries
Batteries will be supplied where necessary.
What do I do if a gift breaks?
We’re very sorry, but once gifts have been delivered and signed for, they become your responsibility. We try our absolute best to make sure that every gift is in full working order, when it is delivered to you.
Can I choose my gifts?
Sorry, this is not possible due to the way we operate.
Will the gifts be new?
Your delivery will contain a mix of new and pre-loved gifts. We hope to be able to provide one new gift per child and this will be subject to the donations received. We check our pre-loved toys as much as possible to make sure they’re working and in good condition with no missing pieces.
Cancelling an application for support.
If you no longer need support, please drop us an email to ensure your application is cancelled.
Email: info@chilterntoybank.org
What donations are you looking for?
We are looking for donations of new or great quality pre-loved toys and gifts for 0-18 year olds.
Our rule is “If you would wrap it up and give it to your own child, then we would love to accept it”…….
Please do not donate us things that are broken or incomplete (eg puzzles or games with missing pieces). We cannot give these away and we then have to dispose of them anyway. If you wouldn’t wrap it up for Christmas for your child, please don’t donate it to us.
For example, please do not donate the following….
- NO – Anything broken or with missing pieces.
- NO – Books with torn/missing pages.
- NO – Half used/scribbled/torn colouring books. Even if it is only one page, we can’t accept it.
- NO – Soft toys without CE labels.
- NO – Puzzles/games with missing pieces.
- NO – Opened/used toiletries/perfumes/aftershaves.
What if there are donations left over?
We aim to dispose of as little as possible. If we have any physical gifts remaining after our annual collection and distribution windows have closed, they will be given to other local charities to be distributed to families in need or advertised locally to local organisations.
Donations
How can I donate toys and gifts?
We’ll have a number of drop-off points around the areas we support. Please keep an eye on our website and social media pages of when you can donate and where you can drop off toys and gifts.
How do you use donations?
Where items are in a great condition these will be re-gifted to local families. Where items fall short of our standard for donations we will try and give these to other institutions (like schools and nurseries) or charities. Sometimes we received very generous donations that are too large for our families in need to receive. Where we cannot rehome them in a local organisation or charity shop, Chiltern Toy Bank reserve the right to advertise these on local social media sites.
Why would you give away donations or receive financial donations in receipt of them?
Many of the families we support often live in small accommodation and cannot always receive large toys. As Chiltern Toy Bank aims to run as efficiently as possible we cannot always afford large storage costs throughout the year to save toys for next year. We’re also passionate that the toys should be with children who will love them and play with them so we may unfortunately have to move generous donations on after Christmas is finished.
How do you use financial donations?
Financial donations will be used to source gifts, particularly if/where we are lacking gifts for certain ages. Financial donations also help us with our running costs and buying those special added extra items, like wrapping paper and Sellotape.
Volunteering
Please see our ‘Volunteering’ page which will tell you more about what it’s like to be a Toy Bank Elf!
How do I volunteer?
Please complete this form https://forms.gle/CjBjtckY31mgm8Ha9 and we’lll be in contact.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Due to how we operate we can only accept volunteers who are 18 years old and above.
Where does the volunteering take place?
We currently operate in Little Chalfont.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is parking available.
Is it accessible?
There are stairs at our warehouse. However, we also have some activities on the ground floor. If you’d like to volunteer but the stairs are a problem, please let us know and we can discuss this with you more.
Do I need to drive?
Driving is not essential unless you want to deliver. There is some public transport near our warehouse and we’ll tell you more when you’re registered.
Information for those partnering with us
Where will my company logo appear?
Your logo will appear on our website on the “Partnering with us” page.
Will there be a link to my business page from the Toy Hub website?
Yes, if you would like this, please discuss this with one of our team who can arrange it for you.
In what format should I send in my logo?
PNG, PDF, EPS or high resolution JPEG please.
Where else might my logo appear?
Unless otherwise requested, Chiltern Toy Bank may choose to use your logo on any marketing material (including social media).