Rotary Christmas Toy Boxes

Rotary Christmas Toy Boxes (RCTB) is an initiative to provide individual toy boxes to every child in every domestic abuse refuge across the UK and is part of the Rotary Children’s Fun Day activities.

By donating just £25 you will be providing one toy box filled with age and gender specific new toys up to an approximate value of £80. You can donate for as many boxes as you would like. It is estimated that at least 5,600 children will be residing in a refuge this Christmas.

Kids in Mind are working closely with Rotary to source the toys, pack the boxes and deliver them to the refuges in time for Christmas.

These are individual toy boxes which cost £25 each and will contain age and gender specific new toys up to an approximate value of £80.

Many of the items in the toy boxes are donated.

These are for the children living in domestic abuse refuges across the UK at Christmas 2024.

The aim is to provide an individual Rotary Christmas Toy Box to every child in every domestic abuse refuge across the UK.

Please bear in mind that over Christmas refuges are generally pretty full, with 15 to 20 children in each refuge, on average.

It is estimated that this Christmas there will be at least 5,600 children residing in a refuge.

Your donations are vital in helping ensure 'Every Refuge, Every Child' receives their very own Rotary Christmas Toy Box.

When you make a donation you will be asked if you want to direct your donation for Rotary Christmas Toy Box to a specific refuge. Please do not contact your local refuge about the project, as this may cause confusion.

Kids in Mind are Rotary GB&I’s supporting partner for the Rotary Christmas Toy Box, and are responsible for sourcing, packing and delivering the Toy Boxes.

Your donations of £25 per box are vital. There is no limit to the number of boxes you can buy with your donation.

Donations must be received by 30th November 2024, but making your donations as early as possible will really help with the logistics to ensure the boxes are delivered in time for Christmas. You can donate after this time, however your Rotary Christmas Toy Box will be delivered after Christmas.

Donations are now open using the form at the foot of this page. Simply complete the online form and make your donation by BACS or cheque.

The monies are being collected by Rotary GB&I who will make a grant to Kids in Mind.

See this link for donations:

Rotary Christmas Toy Box is part of the Rotary Children's Fun Daycampaign, a Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland project support by Kids in Mind.

What are the RCTB?

These are individual toy boxes which cost £25 each and will contain age and gender specific new toys up to an approximate value of £80. Many of the items in the toy boxes are donated.

Who are the RCTB for?

These are for the children living in domestic abuse refuges across the UK at Christmas 2024.

Is it just one box per refuge?

No. The aim is to provide an individual Rotary Christmas Toy Box to every child in every domestic abuse refuge across the UK. Please bear in mind that, over Christmas, refuges are generally pretty full and with an average of 15 to 20 children in each refuge. 

How many RCTB are needed?

It is estimated that this Christmas there will be at least 5,600 children residing in a refuge. Your donations are vital in helping ensure ‘Every Refuge, Every Child, receives their very own Rotary Christmas Toy Box.

Shall I contact my local refuge directly about RCTB?

No, please don’t as this can cause confusion even though we know many of you already work with your local refuges in some way. When you make a donation, you will be asked if you want to direct your donation for RCTB to a specific refuge.

So how do I help?

Your donations of £25 per box are vital and there is no limit on the number of boxes you can ‘buy’/ donate £25 per box for.

How do I donate?

It’s really easy and donations are now open, simply complete the online form on this page and make your donation by BACS or cheque. The monies are being collected by Rotary GB&I who will make a grant

Is there a cut off date for donations?

Yes - 30^th November 2024 but your donations as early as possible really help with the logistics to ensure the boxes are delivered in time for Christmas.

Can I still donate after 30^th November?

Yes – though the RCTB will be delivered after Christmas. 

Can I join with other clubs in making donations for Toy Boxes?

Yes – for example in some districts they calculate how many RCTB are needed for the refuges across their district. They then calculate the number of children x £25 per box and divide the final figure by all the clubs in the district. Each club then makes a contribution at that level. Collaboratively they are ensuring Every Child, Every Refuge in their area experiences the joy of opening their gifts on Christmas Day.

Who is the RCFD Team Member liaison to the District Advisers for the RCTB?

The very experienced Rotarian Dorothy Pulsford-Harris, who can be contacted through thefunday@rotarygbi.org email address.

Are Kids in Mind involved with RCTB?

Absolutely. They are supporting Rotary GB&I by taking responsibility for sourcing, packing and delivering the Toy Boxes. They provide the Domestic Abuse Refuge data, identifying where, and how many children will be residing in refuges.

They do not tell Rotary the exact addresses for refuges, simply its name, Town and the first half of the post code. Dorothy Puslford-Harris will provide this list to each district adviser for their area, with the approximate number of children expected to be in each of those refuges at Christmas. Speak to your district adviser to find out what the needs are in your area.

WHO ARE KIDS IN MIND?

This UK based charity’s core services are focused on providing a compassionate and safe space for emotional restoration and mental health care for children who have escaped domestic abuse and violence.

Take a look at their website https://www.kidsinmind.uk/ to find out more. 

If you still have questions about the charity, please contact Rotarian Gordon Moulds, one of the three Founders of the charity. Gordon is a member of the Rotary GB&I RCFD Team and also part of Rotary GB&I’s Mental Health and Well Being Team.