We would like your support in keeping Community Playlink open whilst the charity seeks more permanent forms of income. Community Playlink supports thousands of families in the Southampton area. To find out more about their story please read below. We hope you can help support Community Playlink and the families around Southampton that rely on this charity. Please also share your stories of Community Playlink in the comments/words of support so that others appreciate how vital this charity is to the Southampton area.

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Link to the Community Playlink website: https://www.community-playlink.com/

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Community Playlink operates a free toy library for families with children, and offers play groups in the Southampton area. They have been running for over 50 years (since 1974). Around 3,500 toys are borrowed from the library every month. They support a huge number of families in the Southampton area.

Community Playlink is struggling to stay open due to financial pressures. This is largely due to Southampton City Council withdrawing its annual funding (~£27,000/year). The charity estimates that it only costs ~£45,000/year to run - to me this is incredible value for money for the number of families that the charity supports. Many families will be affected if Community Playlink has to close their doors.

The funds generated from this GoFundMe page will help keep Community Playlink open whilst the charity seeks more permanent forms of income. If significant funds aren't generated by mid-January 2026, then we will have to say goodbye to Community Playlink and the brilliant toy library and play groups they run. It is bad timing with the Christmas break and the financial pressures that come to all at this time of year, but we hope you can support them.

For further links to news articles on this:

BBC Radio Solent (skip to 1:18:20) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002p8b2?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mpj7deke9o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v0elyqeldo

Southampton Daily Echo - https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25706222.southampton-toy-library-dating-back-50-years-facing-closure/

bitternepark.info - https://bitternepark.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13546:toy-library-set-to-close-after-losing-council-funding&catid=166&Itemid=92

Note: This GoFundMe page was set up by Greg Perry whose children often visit Community Playlink. I have no other connection to Community Playlink then that. My kids and I will be devastated if Community Playlink has to close their doors and we lose the support they offer.