We are bursting with pride to share our brand-new Impact Report 2026 — a celebration of everything we’ve achieved together over the past year. And what a year it’s been!
Behind every number in this report is a child discovering a new toy, a parent finding a friendly face, and a loved toy given a second life instead of going to landfill. As our Founder and Manager Ann-Marie puts it:
“Derbyshire Toy Libraries is about so much more than just toys!”
So grab a cuppa, and let’s celebrate the year in numbers. 🎉
A year of play, in numbers
- 600 Stay & Play sessions held since restrictions lifted in 2021 — across 6 venues in Derbyshire.
- 1,240 toys hired through our ‘Click and Collect’ service, plus 838 toys hired for parties.
- 69 children’s parties brought to life with our toys and tableware kits.
- Our most-hired item of the year? The mighty Rollercoaster, booked an incredible 59 times!
- An online catalogue of over 1,000 toys and resources to borrow, with hire prices starting at just 50p a week.
What families told us
The thing we’re most proud of isn’t a number at all — it’s the way our community feels about us. In our 2025 Members Survey:
- 100% of members said they would recommend us. 💛
- We scored 4.3 out of 5 for giving families new play ideas.
- When asked what could be improved, one member simply replied: “Nothing to be improved, it’s perfect as it is!”
“Both myself and my daughter walk through the door and feel like we’ve come home… The Toy Library has created something very special.”
— Molly & Bobbie-Rae, Belper Stay & Play
“This group is vital for our family and we always look forward to our Wednesday there together.”
— Catrin & daughters, Belper Stay & Play
More than toys
This year we also:
- Launched our Party Packages — three age-appropriate packs making affordable, low-waste celebrations easier than ever, available to hire from just £45.
- Held monthly Virtual Toy Auctions, giving retired and donated toys a new lease of life (and raising vital funds to keep our toy store running).
- Took play out into the community at events like Kilburn Day, Pride in Belper, and the Belper Lights Switch-On.
Every toy we re-home is a toy saved from landfill — good for families’ budgets, and good for the planet.
Thank you 💙
None of this would be possible without our incredible team, volunteers, trustees, supporters, sponsors, funders, and the families who use our services. From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.
Read the full report
We’d love you to explore the whole story, packed with photos, member stories, and more:
📄 Read the full DTL Impact Report 2026 (PDF)
Want to be part of next year’s report? You can donate toys, give a little money, or volunteer with us — every bit helps us play for every child and support every family.