Toy shop's bid to help strengthen family life (From Cotswold Journal)

Toy shop's bid to help strengthen family life

4:00pm Monday 30th July 2012 in Business By Mike Pryce

THE owners of a family-run toy shop in Worcester are helping to raise funds for a national charity that aims to strengthen family life throughout the UK and help families facing difficulties.

Wise Owl Toys, based in Charles Street and run by husband-and-wife team Heather and Mark Stewart, is donating a percentage of profits from the sale of toys to Care for the Family’s Playtime initiative, which supports church-based playgroups for a quarter of million families across the UK.

Mrs Stewart said: “Every time Playtime parents or leaders shop with Wise Owl Toys we’ll make a 10 per cent donation to Care for the Family towards the work of the Playtime network.

“We’re also offering prizes for those toddler groups which place orders over £300.”

Helen Lock, Care for the Family’s Playtime co-ordinator, said: “Toddler groups are a lifeline to the parents and toddlers who come along each week.

“Many parents can often feel isolated within their own communities and Playtime groups offer them the chance to get out and meet people while their children have some fun in a safe learning environment.

“We know that 52 per cent of pre-schoolers attend church-based toddler groups at some stage and with the number of children aged five and under having increased by more than 400,000 to 3.5 million, the demands on the volunteer leaders are higher than ever.”

“The Playtime initiative is run on a charitable basis, so we rely on donations in order to continue to provide this essential service within communities. “We are extremely grateful to Heather and Mark for their support.”