Tag: toys

Charity calls for Christmas toy donations to meet demand

Families across Britain are being asked to make room for Christmas and donate their children’s unwanted treasures to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), as the charity deals with bumper demand for toys, boardgames and puzzles this festive season.

To help encourage donations, the charity has released a series of images where cheeky elves can be seen guiding toys to the nearest BHF shop including jumping into a doll’s car to offer directions to the nearest BHF shop, dusting off board games and firing up a helicopter to hoist cuddly toys out of their basket.  

The elves’ endeavours come as the charity has said demand for second hand toys has increased and the BHF urgently needs quality donations to keep shops stocked with second hand gifts for Christmas. 

The BHF is calling on families who might be clearing out the toy boxes and cupboards to make room for Christmas by donating their unwanted items so another child can enjoy a preloved treasure.

Whether it’s a Barbie that never made it out of the box, a Lego set your child has outgrown, or a puzzle they no longer use, the charity is encouraging the public to drop them off at their local BHF shop and send them to a new home.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the BHF says, “Christmas is an incredibly expensive time of year especially for families. BHF shops are a fantastic place to pick up gifts for all the family at a fraction of the price.

“We’re already seeing an increased demand for toys and games ahead of the festive season. So, as you start decluttering to make room for Christmas in your home, please consider donating unwanted toys, games and puzzles to the BHF for new families to enjoy.

“I’ll be asking my own boys to fill a box with pre-loved toys and games that they’d want another child to enjoy as much as they did. As well as making another child’s Christmas, every item will give a gift that keeps on living by funding vital research to help the 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.”  

Donating to the British Heart Foundation is easy. Simply drop your toys off at any of the BHF’s 680 shops or you can post them using the BHF’s free downloadable label, available from its website. 

BHF Retail Ambassador Dr Helen Nuttall, founder of What Luna Wore and mum of one, is supporting the toy donation drive and said: “My daughter and I have really enjoyed making room for Christmas by sorting out toys and games we no longer play with to donate to the British Heart Foundation.

“Knowing that these toys will find a new home in time for Christmas and help fund vital research into heart and circulatory diseases is special.

“Donating to charity increases dopamine and makes you feel good, as might the rewarding activity of shopping preloved. The festive season can be a time of excess so if you’re looking for a gift that means more, consider checking out your local BHF shop for Christmas treasures.”

“If you donate to the BHF, you’ll make someone else’s day by giving your toys a new home and a new lease of life. Let’s help the elves dust off our pre loved toys and generously donate them to find a new home this Christmas.” 

Christopher’s top tips for donating toys: 

  1. If you can, make sure board games and puzzles have all the pieces in the box before donating them. A missing ‘Z’ in a Scrabble set can stand in the way of winning or losing and we don’t want to be responsible for that! 
  2. The exception to the tip above is sets of Lego or Duplo – incomplete sets of these toys are very popular and still generate lots of fun..
  3. Save your batteries and remove them from toys and games before donating them – we will still test them before they are placed on sale.
  4. Everyone loves to hear stories behind pre loved teddy bears. They’ll always find a warm new home and someone to love them. 
  5. If you have collectable toys to donate, they can be valuable in any condition – so don’t leave them behind when you donate.   

To donate or shop with the British Heart Foundation this festive season and give a gift that keeps on living, visit bhf.org.uk/Christmas   

PDSA saves tennis-loving dog who swallowed two balls

Charity vets urge owners to trade tennis balls for safer toys following Wimbledon final

A tennis ball-obsessed dog from Wolverhampton got himself into a spot of bother after taking his hobby too far and swallowing two balls whole; leaving him needing life-saving surgery from vet charity PDSA.

Loki, a five-year-old crossbreed, landed himself in trouble after a game of fetch with his loving owner Amy, ended in disaster and an emergency trip to Wolverhampton PDSA Pet Hospital.

Amy explained: “Loki is a high-energy dog and he loves nothing more than a game of fetch. Most of his toys are the ‘super strong’ ones – he’s a gentle giant, but his toys don’t last long if they aren’t tough ones. But his favourites are tennis balls, he’s obsessed.

“It was only when Loki refused to eat, and started being sick, we realised something was wrong. He was still active and playful, but it’s not like Loki to pass up some food! When the sickness didn’t stop we called PDSA, and they told us to bring him straight in for an appointment.”

Luckily for Loki, the charity’s Wolverhampton team acted fast and an x-ray revealed the problem: two whole balls inside his stomach.

PDSA Vet Catherine Burke said: “Our vet teams treat ball related injuries every year, which can quickly turn into a life threatening situation. Loki’s situation was a case of life-or-death – without surgery, he would likely have died. One of the balls was lodged in his stomach, preventing him from keeping food down.

Loki was taken into theatre and his emergency operation was a success; PDSA’s vets managed to remove both balls intact.

But the charity is using Loki’s story to warn other owners that a bit of innocent fun with a tennis ball can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. It’s best all round to trade out the tennis balls for safer toys.

Catherine added: “If your dog loves to chew, there is also the risk they could swallow chewed up parts of the tennis ball; which can still cause the same issues with gut blockage like in Loki’s case.”

Following the surgery, Loki is recovering well and, according to Amy, he is back to his fun, playful self.

It’s not unusual to see dogs running after and catching tennis balls. In particular at this time of year, with Wimbledon in full swing, tennis lovers may wish to play a game of fetch with their four-legged friends.

Catherine shares some of the dangers associated with tennis balls: “If your dog is a tennis ball enthusiast, they may not wish to part with their beloved toy, however there are a few important reasons they are not the best option for dogs, quite apart from the fact that they won’t last long under most dog’s jaws.

“The size of tennis balls, and the way they bounce, means that there is a risk the ball can get stuck at the back of your dog’s throat, causing them to choke. It can become wedged in position too far in for you to remove it, blocking your dog’s airway, which sadly can be fatal if the ball can’t be removed quickly.

“If this does happen, try to keep calm and if safe to do so, you can attempt to remove it from the back of the mouth. However it can be very slippery and difficult to remove. If you can’t remove it, contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment.

“Tennis balls are covered in a felt layer; which has the appearance of yellow-green fuzz and is abrasive which means it has a sandpaper-like effect. Over time it can wear down your dog’s teeth and cause pain and difficulty chewing.”

Instead of tennis balls, PDSA recommends toys and balls specifically designed for dogs, as these are less likely to fall apart when chewed.

Make sure any ball you choose is the right size for your dog, to avoid potentially fatal choking incidents or intestinal blockage – they should be big enough to be grabbed with the teeth and carried, but not fit perfectly in the mouth.

Depending on the kind of activity your dog enjoys doing, here’s a guide to the best toy to match:

  • Tugging: rope toys and rubber rings are great for tugging games.
  • Retrieving: Balls of a safe size that they can’t choke on.
  • Searching: hide their kibble or treats in snuffle mats.

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, through its 48 Pet Hospitals across the UK, the charity saves the lives of poorly pets whose owners would otherwise struggle to afford treatment.

In times of hardship pets like Loki will still fall ill or become injured and need emergency care. PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to support owners who have nowhere else to turn by providing life-saving care to vulnerable pets.

To donate, visit www.pdsa.org.uk

Free Stuff! Big Swap Event

Come along Saturday 4th February 2023 at St Martins Church (232 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh, EH11 2JG) to find some great clothes, toys, books, DVDs, kitchen utensils, and other stuff for FREE!

Grab your free ticket asap: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/big-swap-shop-event…

All welcome!! At the event, you will find clothes and other useful items in need of a new home. Everything will be available at NO COST.

You will find a great selection:

• Women’s, Men’s & Children’s clothes

• Toys

• Books, CDs & DVDs

• Kitchen utensils

..and more!

Bring your own bags and help us reduce waste.

**** Please note that we will not accept donations on the day. If you wish to donate items pop in at ELREC Office (14 Forth Street EH13LH) on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd February from 10 am to 5pm. ****

If you have any queries please contact: cfc@elrec.org.uk or anna@grantongoesgrenner.org.uk

Please, confirm your presence here: https://fb.me/e/2AM1WtnIz and share it with your family and friends.

This event is brought to you by Communities’ Reduce Reuse & Recycle (ELREC), Granton Goes Greener and NKS – Networking Key Services and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland.

Come along Saturday 4th February at St Martins Church (232 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh, EH11 2JG) to find some great clothes, toys, books, DVDs, kitchen utensils, and other stuff for FREE! 1pm to 4.30pm

♻️

Grab your free ticket here: https://swapshopfebruary.eventbrite.co.uk#circulareconomy#reuse

Big Swap Event coming up in Dalry

GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be involved in another BIG SWAP event at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre on Saturday 16th July.

Few general rules, which we would appreciate you respect:

  • the event is absolutely FREE and anyone in need of clothes, household items/ books etc is more than welcome to attend,
  • it is NOT A SWAP, everyone is allowed to take anything they need for free. We already have quite a few bigger donations, please, DO NOT BRING ANY DONATIONS on the day,
  • be mindful of others on the day
  • finally, help us to spread a word and invite friends to attend the Big Swap 🙏🙏🙏

https://www.facebook.com/…/gm…/5226040720816416/

Safety Alert: Dangerous toys widely available on online marketplaces, Which? warns

Parents are being warned about the risk of buying cheap, unbranded toys online after a new Which? investigation found more than 40 per cent of toys it bought from online marketplaces failed safety tests.

The consumer champion tested 28 toys bought from four popular online marketplaces – Amazon Marketplace, AliExpress, eBay and Wish – and found 12 posed a safety risk after failing one or more tests.

Each product was tested against British safety standards and checked for small objects that could pose a choking risk, sharp edges and points, cords or fabrics that could pose a strangulation risk and magnets and batteries that could be easily accessed as well as warning notices.

In total, Which? found 50 safety failures among the 12 toys that failed tests, with 10 toys presenting a choking risk and two posing a strangulation risk for children.

While 16 of the 28 toys Which? tested passed safety tests, five of the products that failed tests were sold on Wish, making it the worst offender. Three were sold on eBay and AliExpress respectively and only one was available on Amazon Marketplace.

The most dangerous product Which? found was a 51-piece doctor’s playset – described as a toy for a baby or toddler – sold on Wish, which was filled with unsafe toys and had at least 20 choking hazards.

Most of the toys in the set broke into small and dangerous parts far too easily, including play scissors and a notepad which revealed sharp points.

It also contained toy plasters and pills which were far too small for young children to play with safely and presented a choking risk.

A similar doctor’s set sold on AliExpress was also filled with dangerous toys and failed tests. Which? identified 10 potential choking hazards and also found the long cord on the doctor’s coat could present a strangulation hazard.

A set of magnetic building blocks aimed at children aged three years old and above and sold on Amazon Marketplace also failed safety tests. It did not withstand the impact test and broke open to reveal tiny magnets that were almost four times as powerful as they were permitted to be under current standards, which could pose a choking risk.

Magnets can also cause serious harm to children if swallowed, as they could attract each other in the gut and create blockages, compression of the gut and perforation which would need surgery to fix.

Which? also found a toy tablet sold on Wish that posed a serious risk as the battery cover could be easily removed to reveal a button battery. Similar to magnets, button batteries can be a choking hazard and cause serious injuries or chemical burns if swallowed.

In recent years, organisations such as the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) have issued warnings about button batteries after fatal incidents involving children swallowing them. It is recommended that children’s toys have a secure battery cover that needs a screwdriver or two simultaneous movements to remove.

Which? shared its investigation with the four online marketplaces and all 12 products that failed have since been removed from sale.

Unlike UK retailers, online marketplaces have limited responsibility for ensuring the products sold on their platform meet legal safety requirements, repeatedly allowing unsafe toys and products to make it onto their sites.

The UK’s product safety regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, is currently reviewing the product safety system, including regulation of online sales.

Which? believes that online marketplaces must be given greater legal responsibility for the safety of products sold on their sites so that consumers are far better protected from dangerous and illegal items.

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said: “Many parents will be appalled by our research which has revealed that some toys bought from online marketplaces are failing to meet safety standards and could pose a serious safety risk to children playing with them.

“Consumers should be able to trust that products sold in the UK are safe and meet the standards required, yet a woeful lack of checks and monitoring by online marketplaces means dangerous toys are entering people’s homes.

“It is absolutely crucial that online marketplaces are urgently given greater legal responsibility for the safety of products sold on their sites so that consumers are far better protected from dangerous and illegal items.”

92% of children have changed their playing habits as result of the pandemic

As restrictions lift, getting back to ‘normal’ is simply out of reach for many families and children, who are lacking the funds and resources to reconnect with friends and family, play sport, visit attractions and play outdoors.

At the same time, Oxford Brooks University research has highlighted that lockdown restrictions have had a detrimental impact on children in particular, as reduced play and more sedentary behaviour has the potential to damage their long-term development.

In response, In Kind Direct, the UK charity that distributes large scale donations of products to charitable organisations, has set it’s sights on supporting Save the Children and the #SummerOfPlay initiative aimed at helping children get mentally and physically active this summer. At it’s heart it aims to give children the summer they deserve.

Over 100,000 products have been donated to In Kind Direct so far, which they will be distributing to the 7,000 UK charitable organisations in their network across the summer.

Products include arts and crafts, board games, stationery, lunch boxes, backpacks, jigsaws, books, toys, sports kits, balls and outdoor play equipment – all to support schools, charities and community groups with their holiday activities and aiming to address the startling statistics: 

  • Almost a quarter (23%) of children revealed they’re playing less sport and being less active than they used to be
  • 77% of charities in In Kind Direct’s network are seeing declining health and wellbeing in their areas
  • 76% of respondents from In Kind Direct’s charity network report people they support are feeling increasingly  isolated and lonely

In Kind Direct has joined forces with a number of incredible donating organisations and brands such as; Flying Tiger Copenhagen, PZ Cussons, TCC Global, Micro Scooters, Amazon, Mitre Sports and Hasbro – all have generously donated a wide range of products that will have an incredible impact and enable charitable organisations to do so much more across the summer holidays. 

Activity specialists Merlin, Junior Adventures and Big Game Hunters, have also donated generously, offering free placements at theme parks, opportunities to attend activity camps and chances to win outdoor play equipment – helping to boost physical and mental wellbeing at a time when it has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Debbie, from Pilton Youth & Children’s Project in North Edinburgh, said: “We work with children living in an area of multiple deprivation, so we try to make summer school holidays as fun as possible. 

“We want children to remember their summers and have stories to tell their children when they become adults. By giving them access to toys and fun activities they are very happy and can start to create some happy memories together.”

Rosanne Gray, In Kind Direct CEO, comments: “It’s heart-breaking to see the statistics of how much the pandemic has impacted children’s mental and physical development. Not having access to simple pleasures like a football or puzzles which many families take for granted has stopped many kids from being active and social.

“We cannot let this pandemic continue to impact physical and mental wellbeing for our younger generation, which is why we are encouraging any businesses with products or services to donate and make a difference over these summer months.”

If you are a manufacturer, retailer or supplier and want to donate contact: 

donations@inkinddirect.org  

Charitable organisations seeking donations, and wider products from In Kind Direct can register via: 

inkinddirect.org

UK Parents toying with their children’s safety

Parents have been warned that children in the UK are at risk of death or serious injury from the sale of unsafe toys through various online marketplaces.

Health and safety experts from CE Safety say parents should ensure they are not buying cheap, unsafe or fake toys on the market, as there is an increasing trend towards unregulated sellers flooding online marketplaces.

Buying toys online is often the cheapest and easiest way of buying children’s playthings, but illegal toys can be very dangerous.

The British Toy and Hobby Association conducted a test on many toys sourced from online marketplaces, which has exposed the serious safety failures, with many posing a terrifying risk to children.

Among the breaches are toys with small parts that are a choking hazard to under-3s, as well as small button batteries that could be easily removed by young children and would kill them if swallowed.

A spokesperson for CE Safety said: “Responsible toy brands work tirelessly to adhere to health and safety standards, but there is a lack of regulation in popular online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay.

“There are even counterfeit copies of genuine products, including Disney Frozen dolls, Elf on the Shelf, LOL Electric Princess Doll and a Harry Potter Movie Castle game.

“Parents often assume that a branded toy meets safety regulations, but this is often not the case. Many traders fail to provide safety warnings on products or traceable contact details.

“British parents need to stop this threat to children’s safety, and make sure they are clued up with how to safely buy toys online.”

Here are CE Safety’s tips on how to make sure British parents are safely buying toys online:

Traditional retailers are trusted

If parents don’t feel comfortable with buying online, go for peace of mind with a brand that is known and trusted. Most retailers now sell their stock online too and often they have more choice online than in their stores.

Research is key

Search the company that makes the toy, and include the toy name in the online search. All toys that flouted Toy Safety Directive regulations in the BTHA’s study were from third-party sellers. Never assume the marketplace has done any checks on these traders.

Check the reviews

While some reviews on product information can be unreliable and generated dishonestly, try to assess who is responding. Pay particular attention to negative feedback that sounds very genuine. Customer feedback is vital in the research stage of buying a toy online.

Does the trader usually sell toys?

Check the Amazon or eBay seller account and what their business focus is. If they don’t have a prior history of selling online toys then this could be a red flag. Again, check the reviews.

Check for a UK or EU address?

This should be listed somewhere on their site. Having an address is a legal requirement to sell toys in the UK. If British parents can’t find their address then the seller is not accountable. And if they’re not accountable, what else are they not bothering to comply with?

Beware of the price

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. The reason it might be cheaper is that it could be falling short of the standards required in the UK, with poor quality materials that may be unsafe. Quality testing and meeting the necessary safety regulations is costly to businesses, which is why genuine products can be more expensive to manufacture.

How to spot a counterfeit toy

If parents see the words ‘compatible with (brand name)’ on packaging or marketing, it could be that this product is posing as a genuine known brand. Is the product cheaper than usual without being on sale?

For more information, please visit this comprehensive guide on buying toys safely online.

Nostalgia’s worth £ millions

Investing in THESE Toys Can Make You a Millionaire

  • Hot Wheels have the most monthly searches at 894,500, with the most valuable car said to be worth £134,000.
  • Trading Cards have sold for the highest amount, with a Honus Wagner 1909 card being sold for £2.9m. 
  • Disney VHS Tapes have the least amount of monthly searches and have sold on eBay for £11,000. 

Over the past 6 months, we’ve all had a lot of extra time on our hands and have been using that time to clear out all the nooks and crannies in our homes that have been untouched for years. 

These clear outs have filled our hearts with nostalgia, as we go through old photo albums, clothes that no longer fit and childhood toys. 

Although toys might not seem likely contenders for items to invest in, if you are able to come across the right ones and keep them in perfect condition, you may have hit the jackpot! 

The experts at OnBuy’s Toy Department decided to look into some of the most valuable toys and games that could earn you a fortune. 

ITEMNUMBER OF MONTHLY SEARCHESHIGHEST RECORDED AMOUNT SOLD FOR ($/£)
Comic Book284,200$3.2m / £2.4m
Trading Cards20,800$3.8m / £2.9m
Toy Cars (Hot Wheels)894,500$175k / £134k
Dolls (Barbie)675,000$303k / £231k
Beanie Babies153,800$600k / £458k
Board Games560,900$147k / £112k
Disney VHS Tapes6,500$15k / £11k

The Highlights

With a monthly search of 20,800, the highest amount recorded for the purchase of a Trading Card is said to be £2.9m ($3.8m) for a Honus Wagner 1909 card. 

Other specific Trading Cards of value include Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus card, Yu-Gi-Oh Black Luster Soldier card and a Pokémon Holographic First Edition Charizard. 

Having the fourth most monthly searches with 284,200, Comic Books are big in the investing game too.

In 2014, a first edition of Action Comics from 1938 sold on Ebay for just over £2.4m when the bidder had only put it up for 99 cents (76p). Other comics of similar value include Detective Comics, Amazing Fantasy and Marvel. 

With 153,800 monthly searches, the most expensive sold bundle of Beanie Babies in the world, that went for £458,000 ($600,000), was a large Wallace, two regular sized Wallace’s, Cashew and Huggy.

Other valuable Beanie Babies include Rainbow, Valentino, Princess the Bear, Bubbles and Piccadilly Attic. 

Having the second most monthly searches at 675,000, the most expensive Barbie doll ever sold was the Stefani Canturi doll, which went for £231,000 in 2010 due to the necklace the doll sported having been designed by Stefano Canturi and featured emerald-cut pink diamonds.

Other dolls worth value include Original Barbie (1959), Marie Antoinette Barbie and Pink Jubilee Barbie.

Hot Wheels cars have the highest number of monthly searches standing at 894,500 and one of the rarer finds is said to be worth £134,000 the 1969 pink, rear-loading Beach Bomb. 

Currently standing at 560,900 monthly searches, the original Monopoly game made in 1933 was sold at an auction for £112,000. 

Lastly with the least amount of monthly searches, the most successful Disney VHS tape was sold on eBay for £11,478 ($15,000) – it was the Beauty and the Beast Black Diamond.  

Play Another Day: CBeebies star calls on Scots to help the planet

Get on board with The Great Toy Rescue!

The star of children’s TV show Molly and Mack is urging Scots to hand their old toys on to be enjoyed once again as part of Zero Waste Scotland’s Pass it on Week. 

Joshua Haynes, who plays Mack in the hit CBeebies show, says it is more important than ever that we make better use of our resources to protect the planet. 

Taking place from 7 – 15 March, Pass it on Week, with support from the European Regional Development Fund, is the national celebration of reuse. This year, the theme ‘The Great Toy Rescue’ encourages Scots to pass on items on so they can play another day. 

Passing on toys that are in a good condition, or just need a little fixing up, benefits the environment by avoiding the need to buy new and also diverts existing valuable materials from potentially ending up in landfill or incineration. 

People can do their bit by simply passing on the toys their children no longer play with. 

There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved as events are set to take place across Scotland over the week. Local schools and community groups are encouraged to visit the Pass it on Week website to sign up their event. 

Joshua Haynes said: “It’s more important than ever to be making better use of our resources. The effects of global warming are now here for everyone to see and it’s not a debatable possibility, it’s a very real and tangible thing. 

“We’ve got to do whatever we can to help retain the natural beauty and wonder of our world and finding out how to better use what resources and materials we already have is one of the biggest steps to achieving that goal.” 

Joshua has shared his own story of his favourite childhood toy ‘Pal’ to highlight why it’s so important to value what we already have and how passing on can make someone else’s day. 

He said: “My favourite toy as a kid was this kind of bean-bag, kind of plush puppy who I called Pal. I used to keep Pal by my side at all times whenever I was in the house – and whenever I’d go on holiday, I’d be making sure to take Pal with me.

“When I first got Pal I noticed he had some kind of damage on his front left paw. Instead of asking my mum for a new toy I saw this as something that made him really special, unique. My special dog with his hurt paw. So, because of that I wanted to take extra special care of him – which he definitely got. 

“Unfortunately, one day when going to visit my family in Liverpool, I lost Pal while on the train and never saw him again. Obviously, I was incredibly upset and a lot of phone calls were made to try and find him but with no luck. 

“Although the thing I was so upset about wasn’t the fact that I had lost my favourite toy but that I was actually more concerned that someone wasn’t going to look after him properly. In the end my mum helped me get over it by telling me that some other kid will have found him and that he would be making them happy now.” 

He continued: “Pal taught me a lot of different things growing up, for example, don’t leave your favourite toy on a train!

“But the most important thing I learned from my favourite toy was that sharing something, even if it means the world to you, can help make the biggest of impacts on someone else.” 

A study by Zero Waste Scotland found that 85% of parents say they mainly pass on the toys that their children no longer play with. Meanwhile, 81% say they would give their children a toy previously used by a friend or family member. At least 58% would give them one from a second hand shop or a resale site like eBay or Gumtree.

 Four fifths of Scotland’s carbon footprint is caused by the goods and materials that we consume, whether it is food, clothes, toys or electrical equipment. Maximising use of the materials we have will reduce the level of greenhouse gases produced. It will also protect habitats and biodiversity by reducing the demand to find and extract new materials. 

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Every aspect of our lives touches on the climate emergency in some way. Conserving existing resources is one of the most powerful and easiest ways to make a difference.

“Passing on old toys is a great way to share happiness, plus buying and wasting less will protect the environment and reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint. Never think you are too small to make a difference.” 

The Revolve certification, run by Zero Waste Scotland, is the national reuse quality standard given to shops selling second hand goods. Shops must meet high standards in cleanliness, safety, service and value for money to gain the Revolve certification. When customers see the logo in-store, they can be assured they are buying high quality goods. 

There are currently more than 140 shops in Scotland that carry the Revolve certification. 

For more details and to register your Pass it on Week event, visit passitonweek.com.

 Pass it on Week is part of Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which will invest £73m in circular economy and resource efficiency projects, thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).