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Research commissioned by Hungry Horse estimates UK children will receive 129 million new toys this Christmas, while parents say 39% of their children’s toys are no longer regularly played with or have been outgrown. The pub chain’s Play It Forward initiative will accept good-quality new and pre-loved toys at more than 150 locations from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19.
Hungry Horse will accept toy donations at more than 150 pubs across the UK from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19, as families make room for Christmas gifts and pass on toys children have outgrown. The initiative comes as research commissioned by the pub chain estimates that children in the UK will receive 129 million new toys this Christmas.
The research found parents estimate that 39% of their children’s toys are no longer regularly played with or have been outgrown. Parents expect to spend an average of £247 per child on Christmas presents, while children are expected to receive an average of nine gifts, according to the survey. The source material does not provide the survey’s sample size or fieldwork dates.
Hungry Horse’s Play It Forward scheme invites families to donate good-quality pre-loved or new toys at participating pubs, which will act as “Toybox Donation Stations.” The company says the project is in its sixth year and has collected more than 70,000 toys since it began. Families can check the Hungry Horse website for participating locations.
The research also found 57% of parents plan to sort through toys before Christmas, and 83% say their children have good-quality toys they no longer play with. More than a quarter, 27%, regularly struggle to find room for new toys. The survey figures describe parents’ reported plans and views; they do not establish how many toys will ultimately be donated.
Making Space for Christmas Gifts
The figures point to a practical challenge for households: new gifts arrive while usable toys go unplayed. Donation points at local pubs may offer families a convenient alternative to keeping toys in crowded storage or discarding them, while making items available to other children. Hungry Horse says the scheme is designed to let children take part in choosing what to pass on.
That involvement matters because 34% of parents surveyed said they had kept a toy because their child refused to give it up. Dr Amanda Gummer, a research psychologist who specializes in children’s play, parenting and development, advises letting children decide what they are ready to donate. The source presents this as expert guidance, not as a finding that every child will respond the same way.
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How Play It Forward Works
Hungry Horse says its annual campaign has run for six years, with more than 70,000 toys donated to date. This year’s collection period is scheduled for Nov. 12 through Dec. 19. The company says more than 150 of its UK pubs will take part, but the supplied report does not list each location or explain how toys are distributed after collection.
Parents’ reported attitudes suggest some interest in making donations a regular practice: 77% said they would like toy donations at Christmas to become an annual family tradition. Lynsey Crombie, a professional organiser and decluttering expert, described the period before Christmas as a useful time to sort through toys, focusing on items children have genuinely outgrown or stopped using. Her comments were made in support of the initiative.
““Play It Forward is about bringing some of that excitement to giving gifts as well as receiving.””
— Andrew Gallagher, Hungry Horse brand and marketing director
Survey Limits and Donation Details
The research figures are attributed to a survey commissioned by Hungry Horse, but the available report does not state how many parents were surveyed, when the survey was conducted, or how respondents were selected. The estimates of 129 million toys and nine presents per child should be read as research-based projections, not a count of gifts already bought or received.
The report also does not specify which charities or recipients will receive donated toys, what condition checks will be applied, or whether every participating pub can accept every type of toy. Families should check the company’s location and donation information before visiting. The number of toys collected during this year’s campaign is not yet known.
Collections Run Through December
The planned collection window runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19. Families interested in donating can use the Hungry Horse website to find a participating pub and check the scheme’s instructions. The campaign’s final collection total and details about where this year’s toys go have not been provided in the source material.
Separately, the survey suggests many parents intend to sort toys before Christmas, but it remains unclear how many will take part in the donation scheme. The next concrete update would be the company’s post-campaign account of donations collected and their distribution.
Key Questions
When can families donate toys through Play It Forward?
Hungry Horse says the scheme runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19. Check its website for participating pubs and current donation instructions.
Where can toys be donated?
More than 150 Hungry Horse pubs across the UK are due to act as Toybox Donation Stations. The source does not provide a full location list, so families should use the company’s website to find a nearby participating pub.
What kinds of toys does the scheme accept?
The report says families can donate good-quality pre-loved and new toys. It does not give a detailed list of accepted items or condition rules, so check with the participating location before dropping anything off.
How many toys are children expected to receive this Christmas?
Research commissioned by Hungry Horse estimates 129 million new toys will be unwrapped by UK children this Christmas, with an average of nine presents per child. The source does not give the survey sample size or fieldwork dates.
What happens to the donated toys?
The initiative aims to give donated toys a new home, but the supplied report does not identify the recipients or explain the distribution process. Hungry Horse has not provided this year’s donation total because the collection period is still to come.
Source: madeformums.com
