<div>We are <a href="https://www.thetoylibrary.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Toy Library</a> , an Irish social enterprise helping families recirculate toys within the community. With our online platform and the in-person events, we operate at the intersection of climate action and social justice. Our mission is to make play sustainable and accessible to ALL children.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Earlier this year, we imagined a Swap&amp;Play specifically designed for families with sensory-specific and neurodivergent needs. We couldn’t find public funding, so we asked the help of the community: thanks to your generosity, two Sensory Swap&amp;Play events took place in Cork and Dublin! The impact of the two events combined can be summarised into:
</div>
<ul>
<li>312 toys rehomed
</li>
<li>178 kg of plastic saved
</li>
<li>1064 kg of CO2 emissions prevented
</li>
<li>...and a safe, welcoming space for hundreds of children and their families. All of them.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Today, we want the magic to happen again! <strong>We are looking for angels: is that you?</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>See for yourself <a href="https://www.thetoylibrary.ie/p/events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">what a Swap&amp;Play looks like</a> and what you can help create. Donate if you can, and share the campaign with your network. If we reach the goal, we'll see you in Cork, Aula Maxima, on <strong>Nov 8th, 2026</strong> for our next Sensory Swap&amp;Play. One that you'll have helped make possible!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We have started <a href="https://www.thetoylibrary.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Toy Library</a>, Ireland's first digital sharing platform for toys, to ensure that every child has access to their fundamental right to play ~ in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and dignified.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But not all children are alike.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="null" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/107918055_1789041958892783_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>For many parents of children with special needs, everyday life comes with an added weight. Private therapy is often essential, yet financially out of reach. Public services are limited, and waiting lists can stretch endlessly. Too often, families are left to choose between what their child needs and what they can afford.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Play is not “just play.”
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Children learn from one another through play. They observe, imitate, connect, and grow. For children with additional sensory needs, play is even more critical ~ yet it often requires additional support, access, and opportunity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That’s why we created Sensory Swap&amp;Play : a special Swap&amp;Play event crafted to offer these children the time and space they need to explore new toys, develop fundamental skills, and learn about the world and themselves.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="null" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/107918055_1789042008680192_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This initiative, made possible by you and all the generous donors taking part in this crowdfunding campaign, will allow us to offer:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>A shared, communal play space open to <strong><em>all</em></strong> children
</li>
<li>Access to a wide range of developmental toys ~ an opportunity many families cannot otherwise create at home
</li>
<li>A safe environment where children can explore, experiment, and build confidence at their own pace
</li>
<li>Financial and environmental benefits for families and communities
</li>
<li>A truly inclusive event, where no family feels out of place
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>For neurodivergent children, many of whom are non-verbal, having the freedom to explore different toys, textures, sounds, and social interactions can be life-changing. Sensory Swap&amp;Play gives them space and time they might not otherwise have: space to develop essential skills, to learn by observing others, and simply to <em>be</em> among peers.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>When you contribute, you are not just funding an event.
</div>
<div>You are giving a family the chance to support their child’s development.
</div>
<div>You are helping a child feel seen, included, and less alone.
</div>
<div>You are reminding parents that they don’t have to carry everything by themselves.
</div>
<div>We are in this together. Let’s support one another ~ and make play accessible to every child.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>By contributing to this campaign, and by sharing it far and wide in your network, you are helping make Sensory Swap&amp;Play possible. Thank you!
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>–––
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A heartfelt thank you to the institutional sponsors that already supported the initiative:
</div>
<ul>
<li>CESCA with their €1000 donation
</li>
<li>University College Cork for providing the location, the beautiful Aula Maxima.
</li>
</ul>

Sofia Gillick Correia

Help Sensory Swap&Play Become A Reality (Again!)

Still €1,885 to go. Help us build momentum.