CELEBRATING World Environment Day a toy shop’s scheme finding preloved toys a new home is set to become a permanent fixture.

Toy retailer The Entertainer first teamed up with the Salvation Army in 2019 launching The Big Toy Rehoming campaign.

It was a huge success redistributing more than 40,000 toys – the equivalent to over 20 tonnes of waste.

The initiative returned on June 5 as a year-round campaign with families being encouraged to bring any suitable toys that are no longer played with to any of the 171 The Entertainer stores including Somerset branches in Taunton, Yeovil and Radstock.

These toys will then be passed onto The Salvation Army who will find them new homes to go to.

The initiative aims to reduce the number of toys that could find their way into landfill by giving toys no longer played with a new lease of life, whilst also supporting the 4.1 million underprivileged children living in poverty across the country.

Gary Grant, Founder and Executive Chairman of The Entertainer, said: “We had to pause the campaign due to the lockdown periods but are finally able to bring it back to our stores.

“We know our Toy Rehoming is popular with our customers and many will have accumulated extra toys in need of new homes over the past year so please do bring them into your nearest store for us to rehome via The Salvation Army.

“This not only prevents the toys from finding their way into landfill but also supports the work of The Salvation in helping families in need.”

Kirk Bradley, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Salvation Army, said: “Donations from the previous Big Toy Rehoming campaigns have helped The Salvation Army hugely in continuing to provide practical and emotional support for vulnerable people in the UK.

“It’s such a worthwhile cause and we’re delighted that The Entertainer will now be accepting donations year-round.”

For anyone wishing to donate toys, you don’t need to worry about including packaging, however all toys must have a CE label or marking for safety reasons. For more information, visit www.thetoyshop.com/bigtoyrehoming.