Cork City Council and The Toy Library to Host Free Swap&Play Event at City Hall
Free Swap&Play toy swap at Millennium Hall, Cork City Hall, Sunday 29 November, 11am-2pm. Families with children aged 0 to 8 can register on Eventbrite.
Families in Cork City are invited to a free, eco-friendly Swap&Play event hosted by Cork City Council in partnership with The Toy Library. It takes place on Sunday 29 November from 11am to 2pm at Millennium Hall, Cork City Hall, and gives children the chance to swap pre-loved toys, play and learn about sustainability.
The event is designed to promote toy reuse, reduce waste and encourage Circular Economy principles in communities. Attendees are welcome to bring up to five gently used toys to swap, or simply take home pre-loved toys without bringing any.
Children can explore the Toy Swap&Play Zone, where a variety of pre-loved toys are available to take home. There is also an Eco-Crafting Corner, a creative station for making eco-crafts, and an Eco-Tattoo Station, where children can choose from a range of plastic-free, vegan temporary tattoos.
The Teddy Bear Hub is a mindfulness and self-care experience for teddies. Children can help their soft toys “relax” and learn about well-being through gentle activities, including surgery for lightly injured teddies. A Sustainability Education area will also cover the environmental impact of toys and ways to reduce waste.
The Toy Library says 9 in 10 toys are made of plastic, and that much of this ends up in landfills. The organisation is a Social Enterprise dedicated to making toy reuse a normal part of family life.
Giorgia Anile, Founder of The Toy Library:
“Play is a serious business. Our mission, as a Social Enterprise, is to drive radical change in the way we engage with toys, starting from children and their families. Toys are the most plastic-intensive industry in the world, and most have a really short shelf life. There are better ways to provide our kids with the variety of toys they need, while also caring for our planet. We are delighted to be working with Cork City Council, who are showing such a serious commitment to climate action and sustainability for their youngest citizens.”
The Toy Library also runs a free and privacy-friendly digital platform that connects families who want to share toys, and hosts Swap&Play events in local communities across Ireland.
The event is free and open to families with children aged 0 to 8. Registration is available via Eventbrite. For more information, visit www.thetoylibrary.ie or follow @thetoylibraryireland on social media.