Toy Fair exhibitors have donated a record-breaking amount of toys to KidsOut charity to support the provision of positive experiences to disadvantaged children.

In Toy Fair’s 70th year, the celebrations continued with exhibitors generously donating a record-breaking amount of products to KidsOut via the popular Trolley Dash.

KidsOut, in it’s seventh year as the show’s official charity partner, brought in more than 80 volunteers on the last day of the show, who scurried around the aisles collecting more than 5,600 toys and games generously gifted by exhibitors, the highest amount received to date.

This meant Toy Fair concluded on a heartwarming note as exhibitors rallied to donate a record-breaking number of toys and games. The much-anticipated Trolley Dash marked the end of three successful and busy days for the toy industry.

KidsOut witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of generosity from exhibitors. The charity, dedicated to helping children who have been victims of abuse and forced to flee their homes for refuge, received a diverse range of products. These items, meticulously categorised by age suitability, will be grouped to create toy boxes sent out to vulnerable children.

In 2023, KidsOut sent out over 11,200 toy boxes containing 10 brand new toys each, bringing joy to thousands of displaced children and providing toys to children facing various challenges such as poverty, disability, sickness or other disadvantages. The total amounted to an impressive 227,976 toys. The donations from this year’s Toy Fair will not only contribute to creating these special toy boxes but will also assist refuge homes and other community groups with bicycles, dollhouses, outdoor play sets and much more.

Sara Williams, CEO of KidsOut, said: “We were once again overjoyed and overwhelmed by the level of support shown by the industry at this year’s Toy Fair. We are so grateful for the incredible amount of products gifted to the charity, which will contribute immensely to bringing a smile to so many children’s faces at what can be the most difficult and painful time in their young lives. We would like to express our huge appreciation to the exhibitors who so generously donated their stock, but also the BTHA for its continued faith in the cause, as well as the volunteers and unseen heroes supporting with trolleys and transport: Tesco, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer.”

Majen Immink, director of Toy Fair, added: “It has been our pleasure to once again partner with KidsOut on this fantastic annual initiative. The staff are highly organised, and the volunteers work speedily and efficiently to gather the thousands of items which ultimately will go directly to help children in desperate situations. The generosity displayed by our exhibitors never ceases to amaze us and we are so pleased to be able to be involved in supporting a charity that works directly with children in need of support.”