Toys 4 Kids campaign launched

Toys 4 Kids campaign launch

Being in hospital can be a difficult, bewildering and often a scary experience for anyone – and particularly for children. A Rochdale Bangladeshi Partnership Project delegation, led by the Mayor, Councillor Keith Swift, last year visited the Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital in Sylhet. And to their dismay found that the children’s ward did not have a single toy for sick children to play with.

The RBPP has now launched a 'Toys 4 Kids' campaign and will be shipping donated toys to Bangladesh next month.

At the launch of the campaign Mayor Swift said: "Having seen these children at the hospital during my visit last year with RBPP we felt it was important to give the children some joy by providing them with toys. They had nothing to play with and just a few toys will not only put a smile on their face but will keep them entertained whilst they waited to go home."

Mohammed Dobir Miah, Secretary of RBPP, added: "We want to work towards creating the very best healing environment for children. It's a simple fact that children get better more quickly in an environment they like and even enjoy. We appeal to everyone out there to donate something. We know that many people have toys lying around, please donate as with just a simple toy, you can make a world of difference in the life of a sick child.”

To donate a toy to a sick child, please drop off your donations at the following drop off points around the borough:

Rochdale North

• Wardleworth Community Centre, South Street, Rochdale, Lancs, OL16 2EP (01706 342889) 
• Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AB (01706 647474) 
• Star of Bengal Restaurant, 169 -171 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, (01706 649 901)

Rochdale South

• Deeplish Community Centre, Hare Street, Rochdale, OL11 1JT (01706 860151) 
• Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN (01706 261800) 
• Castlemere Community Centre, Tweedale Street, Rochdale (01706 645200)
• Rochdale Online, 847-849 Manchester Raod, Rochdale, OL11 2NU (01706 523583)

Heywood

• Veenas Restaurant Club, 41 York Street, Heywood, OL10 4NN (01706 366 822)

Middleton

• La Minhaz Restaurant, 23-25 Market Place, Middleton, M24 6AE (0161 643 0081)

Pennines

• Milnrow Balti Indian Restaurant, 22 Dale St, Milnrow, Rochdale, OL16 4HS (01706 353651) 
• Thamins Indian Restaurant, Dearnley Cottage, New Road, Littleborough, OL15 8PL (01706 371000) 
• Bay of Bengal Indian Restaurant, 15 Todmorden Road, Littleborough, OL15 9DQ (01706 379 182)

Alternatively please ring 07764 614031 or email  info@rbpp.org.ukand to arrange collection.

Please note: The deadline for donating toys or money towards the Kids 4 Toys campaign is 15 March 2010

You can also make a cash donation towards buying a toy(s) or towards the cost of shipping it over to Bangladesh. Cheques should be made payable to “Rochdale Bangladeshi Partnership Project”.

Donated items may be used as gifts to individual patients, utilised in playrooms, support groups, as in-room activities for patients and in conjunction with therapies. A variety of toys and games are appreciated, if you are struggling with what to donate please contact us and we will provide you with a list of what you can donate as a guide.

For safety and infection control reasons, please donate only new items that are washable, non toxic and not easily broken (or items that are in mint condition). We are unable to accept used toys or toys that are/have:

• Small items that might cause a child to choke. 
• Staples, pins, beads, glitter, sand, feathers or plastic bags. 
• Sharp edges, made of glass or brittle plastic. 
• Depict violence including guns, swords or action/fighting figures.