Chiltern Toy Bank appeals for donations as demand for Christmas gifts rises

Chiltern Toy Bank supported 833 children across Buckinghamshire in 2025, with demand rising by 15%. Now the charity is calling for toy donations and community support to help bring Christmas magic to families facing financial hardship.

Christmas should be a time of magic, excitement and wildly optimistic attempts to hide presents in places the children definitely won’t look. But for families struggling with the cost of everyday essentials, buying gifts can become another source of worry.

That’s where Chiltern Toy Bank comes in, providing free toys and gifts for children from birth to 18 whose families are experiencing financial hardship or other disadvantages.

Demand shows little sign of slowing. In 2025, the charity had its busiest year to date, with both the number of families supported and the number of children reached rising by 15% year on year. In total, 833 children across Buckinghamshire received support.

With household costs continuing to put pressure on parents, the charity is expecting another busy Christmas season.

Behind every gift is a huge amount of work from the charity’s volunteer “Elves”. Last year, they logged 1,313 hours in the warehouse alone — equivalent to 164 eight-hour working days.

That figure doesn’t include collecting donations, delivering presents or the army of Elves checking toys at home, including the noble task of making sure all those jigsaw pieces are present.

Donated items are collected, cleaned, checked, sorted and matched to children’s ages and interests before being carefully packed. Families also receive wrapping paper and Sellotape, batteries where needed, and a stocking-filler bag containing snacks, toiletries and a small age-appropriate gift.

Donations are particularly important for older children. As the age profile of families supported by the charity continues to rise, finding suitable gifts for teenagers can be more challenging. The charity is also unable to provide digital or electronic items.

Local businesses and organisations have made a significant difference, with support from Stoke Park, The Entertainer and Tesco in Amersham helping to fill some of these gaps. However, donations from the wider community remain vital.

One parent told the charity: “My children were very happy to receive them again this year,” while praising the volunteers who sorted, packed and delivered the gifts to their door.

Another family said volunteers “treated us with respect and made us feel comfortable”, adding that they felt the team genuinely cared about helping families in their community.

Anyone with good-quality toys to donate is encouraged to act now. Donation points are open until 2 November at The White Hill Centre and The Post Office in Chesham, and the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre in Amersham.

Donations can also be made at King’s Church in Raans Road from 9am to 3pm between 26 and 30 October, and at Hildreth’s Garden Centre in Prestwood.

Anyone who misses the donation deadline can still support the charity through its Amazon Wishlist, which remains open throughout November and December.

Registration for families seeking support runs from 26 October to 23 November 2026, inclusive.

For full details about volunteering, donations, family registration and the Amazon Wishlist, visit chilterntoybank.org.

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