Lidl has opened its Christmas Toy Bank appeal for a fifth year, with donation boxes now in all of its more than 1,000 stores in Great Britain. Shoppers can drop off new toys, which are then passed to local good causes for children whose families are struggling this Christmas. The appeal comes as research for Lidl suggests one in 12 parents are considering turning to charity toy schemes this year.
Collection boxes have been placed at the front of every Lidl store in England, Scotland, and Wales. Customers can leave new, unopened toys of any brand, not just ones bought from Lidl, and the boxes will stay in place until 16 December. The toys are then given out locally through Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses with charities and good causes near each store. Lidl says this is its biggest Toy Bank appeal so far, now in its fifth year.
Lidl’s research, carried out by Censuswide in October, surveyed 1,000 parents of children aged three to 12 across the UK. It found that 8% of parents, or one in 12, are considering using charity donation schemes to get presents for their children this Christmas.
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Lidl estimates that this works out at around 660,000 families, based on the number of families with dependent children in the UK. It’s an estimate built from a survey, so the real figure may be higher or lower, but it gives a sense of how many households are feeling the pressure.
The survey also found that 82% of parents feel under pressure over the cost of buying Christmas gifts. Around 12% said they were dipping into their emergency savings to pay for presents. Many people know someone in a difficult position. Some 69% of parents said they know a friend, neighbour or relative who may struggle to afford presents this year. Georgina Hall, director of corporate affairs at Lidl GB, said every child deserves the excitement of waking up to presents on Christmas morning.
How to donate a toy to Lidl’s initiative or others
If you’d like to help, buy a new toy and leave it unopened in the collection box at the front of any Lidl store in Great Britain before 16 December. It doesn’t have to be bought at Lidl, and it should be new and still in its packaging.
Most toy appeals can’t accept second-hand, used or homemade items, for safety and hygiene reasons. It’s also helpful to think about older children, as appeals often receive plenty of gifts for young children but fewer for teenagers.
The Salvation Army runs a Christmas Present Appeal through its local churches and centres across the UK. It only takes new, unwrapped toys and gifts, and each centre sets its own closing date, usually around mid-December, so check with your nearest one using the map on its website.
In Northern Ireland, where Lidl’s toy bank donations don’t currently go, the Salvation Army runs a Family Appeal instead. Many local churches, community groups, schools, and councils also run their own toy collections, so it’s worth looking out for one near you.
How families can get help with presents and food
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Lidl’s toy bank is distributed through local good causes rather than directly to families, so there isn’t a way to apply to Lidl itself. If you’re struggling to afford presents, contacting a local charity, your child’s school or a family support worker is often the best first step.
The Salvation Army says its present appeal referrals are handled by its local centres, which work with social services, health visitors and schools. You can contact your nearest Salvation Army church to ask about getting help, and it also provides Christmas food parcels in around 600 communities across the UK.
Food banks can provide emergency food parcels with at least three days’ worth of meals. To get one, you’ll usually need a food voucher, which you can get from local organisations such as Citizens Advice, a GP surgery, a school, or a housing support worker. The voucher is then exchanged at your local food bank for a parcel. If you’re not sure who can refer you, the Trussell website has a tool to find your nearest food bank and explains how to get a referral.
Emergency help from your council
In England, local councils run the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which can help with energy and water bills, food, essential items and housing costs. You don’t need to be on benefits to apply, and getting help won’t affect any benefits you do receive.
Each council sets its own rules on who can get help and how to apply, and some give the money through local charities. In Scotland, the equivalent is the Scottish Welfare Fund, and in Wales, it’s the Discretionary Assistance Fund. You can find your council’s details on the GOV.UK website.
Keeping Christmas costs under control
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If presents are stretching your budget, setting a spending limit for each person and agreeing it with family can take the pressure off. Some families agree to buy for the children only, or run a Secret Santa among the adults so everyone buys one gift.
Be cautious about using credit, buy now pay later or payday loans to cover Christmas, as the repayments land in January when money is often tight. If you’re already worried about debt, free and confidential advice is available from Citizens Advice, StepChange and MoneyHelper.
If you’d like to donate, drop a new, unopened toy in the box at any Lidl store in Great Britain before 16 December, or give to the Salvation Army’s present appeal or a local toy collection. Gifts for older children and teenagers are often especially welcome.
If you’re the one who’s struggling, speak to your child’s school, a local charity or your nearest Salvation Army centre about presents, ask for a food bank referral if you need food, and check what your council’s crisis fund can offer. Asking for help early gives you the best chance of getting support in time for Christmas.
