Article courtesy of the Toy Fair 2016.

Organisers of Toy Fair, the UK’s only dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition, the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), today announced a new partnership with children’s charity, KidsOut for Toy Fair 2016.

“We’re delighted to welcome Kids Out as our official charity partner for Toy Fair 2016,” commented Majen Immink, Head of Toy Fair Operations and Sales. “The Trolley Dash is always a fun way to mark the end of Toy Fair for another year and it’s a fantastic opportunity for our exhibitors to support a worthy cause.”

The partnership will see KidsOut providing volunteers to take part in the annual Trolley Dash which takes place on the final afternoon of Toy Fair. Exhibitors are encouraged to donate any unwanted or excess stock to the charity’s volunteers who will be pushing trolleys through the aisles of Olympia.

All the toys donated will go to the KidsOut Toy Box programme which supports children who are victims of domestic abuse. Almost 20,000 children escaped abuse last year and stayed in a domestic violence refuge. After a period of around 6-12 months more than 8,000 of these children will eventually be relocated to a new home in an unfamiliar area. KidsOut, in conjunction with the Women’s Aid Federation, provides them with a box of brand new toys to help bring stability and fun into their lives when they need it most. All the new toys collected via the trolley dash will become part of this programme giving something positive for these disadvantaged children to focus on.

Kids Out will also have a stand for the duration of Toy Fair 2016 which will be situated outside the organiser’s office.

Julian Margolin, Chief Ambassador of KidsOut added, "The KidsOut partnership with The Toy Fair will allow the charity to expand its Toybox programme and support many more children who are victims of domestic violence in the UK. These children will once again be able to have fun and happiness in their lives and have something positive to remember other than the painful memories of abuse. We are extremely grateful to all involved for their support and look forward to a fantastic Toy Fair."

Phil Cassidy, Joint Managing Director of Casdon Toys: “After a hectic three days of business, it is always amazing to see the industry as a whole contribute to a worthy cause. It is great sight to see the trolley’s rushing through the aisles piled full of toys! Casdon Toys will certainly be supporting this again, like we do every year, by giving every product from our stand away to charity.”

Toy Fair takes place from Sunday 22 to Tuesday 24 January 2016 at London’s Olympia. To register for a free pass to Toy Fair simply visit www.toyfair.co.uk.