What is the Toy Library?

The Toy Library is a scheme which lends toys, books, games, musical instruments and specialist equipment for children aged 0-14 years to parents, carers and professionals. It also sells a variety of arts, crafts and children’s welfare products at affordable prices.

There are 11 static toy libraries across the Sunderland, Washington and Coalfield areas where a range of toys are housed permanently and are openly displayed during opening hours. There are even more outreach venues where a small selection of toys can be viewed and borrowed at each session or, if there is nothing suitable, special orders can be taken for collection at subsequent sessions.

What are the benefits?

• Children can play and interact with other children in the toy library
• Adults and children can have fun together discovering and choosing new play materials that will support the children’s learning and development
• Toys and craft materials are resources which help parents and carers to interact more closely and spend quality time together.
• Craft activities at home encourage children’s imagination and creativity
• Try before you buy – find out what kind of toys and activities a child enjoys and avoid expensive mistakes when buying

How to join

Visit any of the toy libraries during opening hours (see timetables) with one proof of identity and complete a membership form. Anyone over 18 years can join to borrow toys for children in their care. Grandparents take note!

How much does it cost?

Parents and Carers

Pay as you go - 20p per item (40p if it has batteries) for a 2 week period.
OR
Parents and carers can choose to pay £10.00 per year up front if they wish which means they can then borrow as many toys as they like for one year free of charge.

Schools, crèches, out of school clubs and nurseries
£20.00 per year to borrow as many toys as they like in that year free of charge for a 6 week period

Childminders
£10.00 per year to borrow as many toys as they like in that year free of charge for a 6 week period

Playgroups and community play schemes
£5.00 per year to borrow as many toys as they like in that year free of charge for a 6 week period

Toddler Groups
Free to borrow as many toys as they like in that year for a 6 week period

Our current locations are as follows (see timetables for further details):

Coalfields
Barnwell
Barnwell Primary School (Monument Centre), Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, DH4 7RT

Dubmire
Dubmire Primary School, Britannia Terrace, Fencehouses, Houghton Le spring, Tyne & Wear, DH4 6HL

Hetton Lyons
Hetton Lyons Community Nursery School, Four Lane Ends, Hetton Le Hole, DH5 0AH

Washington
Rainbow Family Centre
34 Elliott Terrace, Concord, Washington, NE37 3AE.

Washington Village Playgroup
Community Centre, Spout Lane, Washington, NE38 7HS

Columbia Toddlers
Columbia Parent & Toddler Group, Oxclose Road, Columbia, Washington, NE38 7ND

Wessington Primary School/Children’s Centre
Lanercost, Washington, NE38 7PY.

Oxclose Primary School/Children’s Centre
Brancepeth Road, Oxclose Village, Washington, NE38 0LA.

Springwell VCH
Springwell Village Hall, Fell Road, Springwell Village, Washington, NE9 7PA.

Sunderland
Bunny Hill Children’s Centre
Sunderland Customer Service Centre, Hylton Lane, Sunderland, SR5 4EW.

St Peter’s Children’s Centre
Dame Dorothy Primary School, Dock Street, Sunderland, SR6 0EA.

Austin House Family Centre
22 Shakespeare Street, Southwick, Sunderland, SR5 2JX.

Maplewood Centre
Maplewood Avenue, Marley Potts, Sunderland, SR5 5AX.

Valley Road School
Valley Road Community Primary School, Corporation Road, Hendon, Sunderland, SR2 8PL.

Hudson Road School
Hudson Road Primary School, Villiers Street South, Hendon, Sunderland, SR1 2AH

Silksworth School
New Silksworth Infants School, Blind Lane, Silksworth, Sunderland, SR3 1AS.

Doxford Park CA
Mill Hill Road, Doxford Park, Sunderland, SR3 2ND.

Bangladeshi Centre
30 Tatham Street, Hendon, Sunderland, SR1 2QD.

Hillview Infants School
Hellvellyn Road, Hillview, Sunderland, SR2 9JJ.

Ryhope CA
Black Road, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0RX.

Grangetown Primary School
Spelterworks Road, Grangetown, Sunderland, SR2 8PX.

Ryhope Children’s Centre
Shaftesbury Avenue, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0RT

Highfield
Ford Children’s Centre, Fordfield Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, SR4 0DA.

Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre
Portsmouth Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, SR4 9AS.

Pennywell Early Years Centre
Portsmoth Road, Sunderland, SR4 9AX.

Thorney Close
Thorney Close Children’s Centre, Thorndale Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, SR3 4JQ.

Millfield Children’s Centre
Millfield Community Nursery School, Bell Street, Millfield, Sunderland, SR4 6JR.