The Mayor’s Toy Appeal is a charitable appeal that provides Christmas presents to children of families in crisis, referred to us by Social Services, schools, churches and other agencies, allowing the children to experience the magic of Christmas whilst enabling their parent(s) a valuable respite from the pressures of the season.

We seek to help children who, due to family circumstances, would not receive Christmas gifts.

For example:

  • Families where parents/carers suffer with mental and/or physical difficulties
  • Families experiencing emotional/stressful/abusive circumstances
  • Families in crisis due to bereavement or illness of a parent
  • Children housed in temporary accommodation
  • Families facing severe financial difficulty

Whilst we receive much valuable support, we receive no funding and rely very heavily on volunteers and donations of gifts and funds.

The appeal will run from Friday 10th November to Monday 11th December 2023.

We like to encourage people to shop in their town centres.

Teddy Mayor has compiled a list of the gifts we'd like to receive on behalf of the children

New toys only please, no guns or candles.

Visit our

For further information please email trevor.crawford@mayorstoyappeal.co.uk

Construction Toys

Lego & Duplo

Bionicle & K'nex

Mega Bloks & Meccano

Art & Craft Toys

Sketch pads

Art sets & paint by numbers

Colouring pencils & felt tips

Pens & pencil cases

Block crayons & stencils

Stationery sets

Rubbers, rulers & sharpeners

Finger paints & poster paints

Paint boxes & brushes

Colouring books

Sticker books

Craft activities

Paper dolls

Spirography & scribblers

Style model activity books

Gifts for Teenagers

Hairbrushes, slides & bobbles

Leather belts

Makeup, eyeshadow & lip gloss

Nail varnish & manicure sets

Scent, toiletries & deodorant

Hair gel & spray

Makeup brushes & cosmetic bags

Combs, mirrors, umbrellas & purses

Necklaces & bracelets

Jewellery boxes & holders

Alarm clocks, watches & wallets

Secret diaries

Sunglasses

Handbags

Beanie hats & gloves

Tights

Branded football club items

Games & Puzzles

Board games for 3-90 year olds

Pictionary & Frustration

Operation & Buckaroo

Cranium

Picture Lotto

Jigsaw puzzles (500 piece max.)

Playing cards

Sewing kits

Educational Toys

Calculators & maths sets

Lunch boxes & flasks

Musical instruments

Frisbees & skipping ropes

Footballs

Cricket & badminton sets

Skittles & quoits

Football boot bags

Baby & Toddler Toys

Bathtime toys & puzzles

Light & sound activity toys

Toys for under 3s

Mobile, cot & buggy toys

Clutch & roller rattles

Colourful wooden bricks

Stacking cups

Shape sorters & spinning tops

Hats, gloves & pyjamas

Comfort blanket & Cuddleuppets

Hand cars, pull along toys, ride-ons

Babies bibs, beakers & dishes

Buggy clip-on toys & baby walkers

Dolls for under 3s

Fisher Price, Tomy & Little Tikes

Make Believe Toys

Finger & hand puppets

Dressing up clothes

Cash registers & play money

Play food & kitchen utensils

Play scales & doll bath sets

Doctors & nurses medical sets

Playdough & kinetic sand

Rolling pins & shape cutters

Tea & pastry sets, cutlery & kettles

Toolkits & car play mats

Happyland people & vehicles

Toy cars, trains & aeroplanes

Hot Wheels cars & Micro Machines

Telephones & torches

Barbie, Sindy & Monster High Dolls

My Little Pony

Dinosaurs, farm & zoo animals

Transformers & Marvel Avengers

Sylvanian Families & Playmobil

Baby Annabell & Baby Born

Shopkins

Books

2024 diaries & calendars

Address books

Cloth books for babies

Card books for babies

Books with clips for buggies

Early reading books

Books for under 5s

Reading books for 6-17 year olds

Football & joke books

2024 annuals

Activity books

Song & sound books

Teenage books

Branded Toys

Mickey & Minnie Mouse

Disney Little Princess

Winnie the Pooh

Peppa Pig

Hello Kitty

Thomas the Tank Engine

Postman Pat

Frozen

Spiderman

Fireman Sam

Transformers

Superman

Despicable Me

Mr Men & Little Miss

Paw Patrol

Mr Tumble

Twirlywoos

Top Gear

X-Men

WWE

Where’s Wally?

Batman

Football, Rugby & Cricket

The Hunger Games

Minecraft

The Simpsons

Star Wars

Marvel

Jurassic World

Shaun the Sheep

Gift Drop Off

These are Maddisons Residental in The Pantiles, The Amelia Scott next to the Town Hall, Barsley's in Paddock Wood, St George’s Childcare Chilston Road, Trinity Theatre and Royal Victoria Place.

Please drop your gifts off by Monday 11th December.

St George’s Childcare and Royal Victoria Place will also feature `Giving Trees’ where you choose a label featuring a gift and return it to any of the collection points.

Last year, we managed to provide nearly 700 children with a sack of gifts thanks to your enormous generosity. We anticipate that numbers may well be higher this year.

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A huge thank you from the
Teddy Mayor's Toy Appeal 2023 to...

Thank you to R&B Fashion Accessories!

Thank you to R&B Fashion Accessories!

A huge thank you to R&B Fashion Accessories for their donation of jewellery for the 2023 campaign and over the years.

Thank you to Play Press!

Thank you to Play Press!

A massive thank you to Play Press for their kind donation of 3D building playsets.

Thank you to Groupe-Bel!

Thank you to Groupe-Bel!

We'd like to give a huge thank you to Groupe-Bel for donating a large number of toys for the appeal.

Thank you to Sensible Wine!

Thank you to Sensible Wine!

A special thank you to Sensible Wine for their continual generous donation of wonderful toys.

Thank you to Clear-It!

Thank you to Clear-It!

A special thank you to Clear-It for their generous donations and support for the Mayors Toy Appeal.

Thank you to Thames and Kosmos!

Thank you to Thames and Kosmos!

Huge thanks to Thames and Kosmos for donating a large range of toys and games.

Thank you to West Kent Radio!

Thank you to West Kent Radio!

A huge thank you to West Kent Radio for their support and for publicising daily the Mayors Toy Appeal during their broadcasts. West Kent Radio is your truly local radio station across Tonbridge, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Paddock Wood and surrounding villages.

You can find West Kent Radio online at West Kent Radio | 95.5, 106.7 & 107.2 FM or on Smart Speaker. Find their schedule here.

Thank you to local author, Matt Waugh!

Thank you to local author, Matt Waugh!

A special thank you to local author, Matt Waugh, for donating over 300 of his books for children.

Thank you to the Big Yellow Self Storage!

Thank you to the Big Yellow Self Storage!

Big Yellow is the UK’s favourite self storage company and provide a range of secure storage rooms for homes and businesses which can be accessed seven days a week. Big Yellow have provided all year-round storage support, allowing us a safe working environment to collect, store and sort through all of our donated items.

Thank you to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District!

Thank you to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District!

RTW Together BID is a not-for-profit organisation that is funded by and represents businesses in Tunbridge Wells town centre. The BID works to deliver projects to increase footfall and promote the area, providing services such as the town centre's Christmas lights and town improvements. RTW Together BID have helped us promote and host the Big Reveal events.

Thank you to Razorthorn Security LTD!

Thank you to Razorthorn Security LTD!

A big thank you to Razorthorn Security, for their generous support throughout the 2023 campaign, and donation of gifts for the appeal.