Services › Our Toy Library
Our Toy Library in Southampton
Learn how our free toy library works, who can borrow, and what educational, sensory and special needs toys are available from our Swaythling base.
What’s a Toy Library?
A Toy Library is a facility where parents, carers and groups can borrow high quality educational toys, sports and play equipment free of charge for their children from 0 – 14 years of age, who live in Southampton.
Our Swaythling toy library (our main hub) is designed for families who want educational toys to borrow in Southampton, including toy library support for children with additional needs.
We also run a satellite toy library out of Weston library to ensure that all families have access to our resources, regardless of their location.
How does it work?
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Register
It works just like a book library – simply complete a membership card to join.
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Borrow
Choose a set amount of toys to take home, with advice given on the type of stock that parents may require.
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Return & repeat
Bring items back within the stated time and borrow again. Long term loans and bulk loans are available for all groups and childminders.
This means Community Playlink can help with everything from a toy library near you in Southampton to childminder toy loans, group borrowing, and longer-term support for early years settings.
What toys do you have?
Community Playlink has a vast stock of every kind of toy and play equipment for children from 0 – 14 years of age. We cover the full stages of play from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stages 1-3. Also available are toys for children with special needs.
Families and settings use us for EYFS toys loaned in Southampton, sensory toys loans in Southampton, and toys for children with disabilities in Southampton that can be hard to source affordably elsewhere.
Here are just some of the range of toys we hold in stock:
- Baby toys
- Sensory play
- Sand and water toys
- Small world play toys
- Construction sets
- Puzzles and games
- Musical instruments
- Soft-play toys
- Toddler toys
- Home Corner equipment
- Outdoor toys – ride-on toys
- Role-play equipment
- Dolls, doll houses and furniture
- Transport toys
Our Toy Index lets you browse our selection online. It’s updated fairly regularly to match the toys that aren’t currently on loan, but to avoid disappointment it’s always best to come in and have a look.
Why set up a Toy Library?
There are many important benefits for families, services, and the community. These can include:
Access to play and inclusion for families that need it most
Toy libraries are invaluable for many families particularly those living in deprived areas and affected by poverty where access to toys and play equipment may be limited. They can provide places for meeting and socialising, particularly important for families who may find themselves isolated. Parents of children with disabilities or additional needs can also access a range of specialist toys and equipment, which can help to encourage and enable less confident parents in playing and interacting with their children.
A space for promoting and enabling parents’ involvement in their children’s learning
Toy libraries provide opportunities to build relationships within families by encouraging one-to-one interaction and spending time playing together. Children and parents are encouraged to choose toys to take home, which can contribute to improving the Home Learning Environment, which has a proven impact on children’s learning and development.
An enhancement of learning opportunities promoted through child-centred play
Toy libraries can provide a wide selection of toys and resources which support children’s learning contributing to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the Primary Curriculum with an emphasis on play and following children’s own interests, thinking and enthusiasm.
Routes in for parents and carers within the wider community
Parents join toy libraries for the benefit of their children, but they also are excellent gateways to access training, advice on parenting, healthy eating, managing money and job opportunities. Toy libraries can also provide opportunities for parents, carers and grandparents to volunteer in schools and early years settings to working alongside each other and professions, improving community cohesion.
Toy library locations across Southampton
Community Playlink’s main toy library is based in Swaythling, but we also support families and partner settings across the city.
Swaythling
Our main hub, based at Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre.
Weston
A satellite toy library run out of Weston library.
If you are not sure which location or service is the best fit, please contact us and we can point you in the right direction.
Community Feedback
These quotes are taken from our last community survey.
Have a look around!
You can have a look around our Toy Library at our main base in Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre by looking at our panoramic tour below. Or, even better, come along!
Come and visit us
We’d love to
meet you.
Drop in during opening hours to explore our toy library, join a playtime session, or just say hello. No booking needed.
Swaythling Neighbourhood CentreHampton Pk Wy, Southampton SO17 3AT
Tuesday10am – 1pm
Wednesday10am – 1pm
Saturday10am – 1pm