Click here for the Toy Fair 2020 gallery!

KidsOut were delighted to have been selected as the London Toy Fair‘s official charity partner in January 2020 for the fifth consecutive year! The three-day event was a great success, with KidsOut having its own stand to promote the charity’s vital work, and the annual “Trolley Dash” collecting over 4,000 toys! All of the toys have already been audited and earmarked for delivery within a few weeks to disadvantaged children around the UK. 

The Toy Fair is the UK’s largest dedicated toy, game and hobby trade show taking place annually at the end of January at Olympia Grand and West Halls, London. The toy industry’s showcase welcomes more than 270 companies exhibiting thousands of products to visitors including retailers, buyers, media, and the wider industry.

One of the most eagerly anticipated moments of every Toy Fair is the famed Trolley Dash, in which KidsOut staff and volunteers pass through the stalls for half an hour at the end of the final day to collect as many toys as they can from exhibitors.

The toys donated will be sent to disadvantaged children via the KidsOut Toy Box service. Toy Box ensures that those children who are rehomed after spending time in a Women’s Aid refuge receive a brand new box of toys to call their own. These children are often relocated with very little possessions to an area away from family and friends, with the Toy Box providing a sense of normality and happiness in their lives. For more information about Toy Box, click here.

The KidsOut team was overwhelmed by the generosity on display at this year’s Toy Fair and wanted to extend their gratitude to all those involved in the Trolley Dash.

Thank you to all the exhibitors who kindly donated their products to KidsOut at the dash. Because of your support, thousands of disadvantaged children up and down the UK will receive some much needed fun and happiness in their lives.

Special thanks must go Majen and her team of the British Toy and Hobby Association for organising another fantastic Toy Fair and their continued support of KidsOut. Without them none of this would have been possible. Also not to be forgotten is Jo Lester, the venue organiser, and her team for magnificently managing KidsOut’s  ever changing needs for access to the venue, parking, and logistics.

Thanks is also warranted for Marks and Spencer for providing the huge lorry and delivering the donated toys to the KidsOut warehouse. Additionally, thank you to Tesco in Cromwell road for lending the trolleys, as without this kind gesture the dash would have been very difficult and costly,

Last but not least, the KidsOut team wanted to show their appreciation to all of the 50+ volunteers who donated their time in a working day to come along and dash up the aisles, build and pack hundreds of boxes, scan and audit toys and load them onto the lorry. Your energy and enthusiasm made the day extra special and the staff at KidsOut sincerely hope you all had a good time.

Be sure to visit the KidsOut Facebook page for pictures from the event. All of these were taken by freelance photographer Chris Ongsiek completely free of charge and she can be contacted at [email protected]. Thanks once again Chris.

KidsOut can hardly wait for next year’s Toy Fair! If you would like to be involved in the 2021 Trolley Dash or would like to find out some more information, please email [email protected].