Schools across the North of Scotland are being urged to turn unwanted toys into moments of joy for children facing hospital treatment, as part of a new campaign from The Archie Foundation.
The children’s charity is calling on schools across the city to organise second-hand toy sales this October to raise funds for its work supporting children and families at hospitals across the North of Scotland, including Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH), Highland Children’s Unit and Tayside Children’s Hospital.
The campaign is being launched ahead of Play in Healthcare Week (October 5-11), an annual celebration highlighting the vital role of play across healthcare settings such as hospitals and GP practices.
Archie’s toy sale initiative encourages pupils to collect unwanted toys from their homes and communities before selling them at school, helping to give pre-loved toys a new lease of life while raising money to support children in hospital.
Nathan Reid, regional fundraising officer at Archie in Aberdeen, said: “Hospital and healthcare environments can often feel overwhelming for children and young people. The importance of play in these settings cannot be overstated. Play helps to bring moments of joy, while also supporting children to better understand their treatment and procedures in a fun, engaging and age-appropriate way.
“That's why we'd love schools across the North of Scotland to get behind Play in Healthcare Week this year. Every toy sold helps us provide exactly that kind of support.”
Supporting play is an important part of the services provided by Archie. As well as supplying toy boxes for young patients and helping to create welcoming, child-friendly spaces within the hospital, the charity currently fully funds one play practitioner at RACH.
The role of a play worker is to support medical teams on the wards, using play to help distract children while doctors and nurses carry out procedures. They can also provide a familiar, friendly presence for young patients and their families during their time in hospital.
It's not just schools that the charity is encouraging to get involved, with individuals and families also welcome to host their own second-hand toy sale.
Participants can choose any date that suits their calendar, the toy sale does not need to fall within Play in Healthcare Week itself.
Archie can provide branded t-shirts, collection buckets, posters, and information leaflets to support the event.
Nathan added: “A toy drive for Play in Healthcare Week is a great way for children to see the impact of their fundraising while developing a wide range of skills such as numeracy, organisation and enterprise skills. Whether it is a whole-school sale or a small event organised by a class or for your neighbours, every toy sold can help us continue providing play support when children need it most.”
Sign up for a free fundraising pack today by visiting https://archie.org/events/play-in-healthcare-campaign/