Where to get free or cheap toys and gifts for kids this Christmas in the UK

Finding help with Christmas presents

If you’re already stressing about paying for school shoes and winter coats, the thought of Christmas presents can feel like a punch in the stomach.

You’re not a bad parent if you can’t afford big piles of toys. Money is tight for lots of families right now, and there is real help out there so your kids still have something to open.

This guide walks through where to look for free or very low-cost toys and gifts for children in the UK, plus what to do if you only have a tiny budget.

How Christmas toy help usually works

Most Christmas toy schemes are run by charities, churches, radio stations or local groups. They collect new toys from the public, then pass them on to families who are struggling.

Some let you apply directly as a parent. Others only take referrals from a school, social worker, health visitor or another support worker.

Because every area is different, you may need to try a few routes. The main thing is not to be embarrassed about asking. These schemes exist because people know how hard Christmas can be.

National Christmas toy appeals

Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal

The Salvation Army runs one of the biggest Christmas toy appeals across the UK. Local churches and centres collect new toys up to mid-December, then give them out to families who would otherwise struggle.

How to get help:

• Look up “Salvation Army” plus your town and contact the local church or centre.
• You can also ask your school, health visitor or support worker if they already refer families into the appeal.

The toys are new and usually unwrapped so staff can match gifts to ages. In many areas they include teenagers, not just little ones.

Cash for Kids Mission Christmas

Cash for Kids runs the Mission Christmas appeal through local radio stations in many parts of the UK.

Shoppers donate toys or money, and the charity makes sure gifts reach children who are at risk of waking up with nothing on Christmas morning.

The scheme usually supports children through professionals, not direct self-referral.

How to get help:

• Speak to your child’s school, nursery or college and ask if they work with Cash for Kids or any Christmas toy scheme.
• If you have a support worker, ask them if they can refer you.

Family Action Christmas Toy Appeal

Family Action runs a national Christmas Toy Appeal which sends presents to children supported by their services. In recent years they’ve distributed tens of thousands of gifts across the country.

You normally need to already be in touch with Family Action or be referred through a partner organisation, so it’s worth asking if you’re already connected.

The Entertainer and The Big Toy Appeal

Toy shop The Entertainer runs “The Big Toy Appeal” with the Salvation Army. Between 1 and 29 November 2025, customers can buy an extra toy to donate. For every toy donated, The Entertainer matches it with another one, doubling the help.

Those toys are passed to local Salvation Army centres and included in their Christmas Present Appeal, which is why contacting your local Salvation Army is a key first step.

Local toy banks and regional appeals

On top of the big national schemes, there are lots of smaller toy appeals that only cover certain areas, such as:

• Teesside Charity Christmas Toy Appeal in the North East
• Chiltern Toy Bank in parts of Buckinghamshire
• Hospital and hospice toy appeals, like those in Lewisham and Gloucester, which collect toys for children spending Christmas in hospital

These are just examples. Many towns and cities have their own toy bank, church appeal or community project.

Quick tip:
Search “Christmas toy appeal” plus your town or county name, and check local news sites and council pages.

How to find local toy schemes near you

Ask your child’s school or nursery

Schools are quietly involved in a lot of Christmas support. Staff often know which local charities provide toys or vouchers and how to apply.

You can:

• Send an email to the school office saying you’re struggling and asking if there’s any Christmas support.
• Ask if they work with any toy appeals, or if there’s someone you can speak to in confidence.

Speak to your health visitor, midwife or support worker

If you have a health visitor, social worker, housing officer or family support worker, they may be able to refer you to local toy schemes or hardship funds. Some grants and appeals only accept applications from professionals.

Check your council website

Many councils pull together pages of “help with food and gifts at Christmas” listing local toy appeals, food hampers and warm spaces, even when they don’t run the schemes themselves.

These can include church projects, community centres and voluntary groups.

Look at Turn2us for grants

Turn2us is a national charity that helps people find grants and other financial help. Their website has a Christmas support page and a big grant search tool that lists funds you may be able to apply for.

Some grants won’t be just for toys, but if you get help with bills or food, that can free up a bit of money towards gifts.

Use local online groups

Local Facebook groups, Nextdoor and community pages often share toy appeals and “no questions asked” gift offers in December. One recent campaign encouraged people to “adopt” pre-loved toys and give them a new home.

Search for:

• “Christmas help”, “toy appeal”, “gift appeal” or “free Christmas presents” plus your town
• Posts from churches, food banks and community centres asking for toy donations – if they’re collecting, they’re usually giving them out locally too

Where to get very cheap toys if you have a small budget

Sometimes you might not qualify for a charity scheme, but you still need to stretch a tiny pot of money as far as possible.

Charity shops and nearly new sales

Charity shops are full of toys in November and December, many of them barely used. You can often find:

• Board games and puzzles with all the pieces
• Dolls, action figures and cars
• Books and craft sets

Check for half-price or “3 for 2” deals, and give yourself time to pop into different shops.

Some children’s centres, churches and NCT-style groups also run nearly new sales where toys are sold very cheaply before Christmas.

Discounted toy sales and outlets

Big toy chains and supermarkets often run strong offers before Christmas. Recent examples include:

• The Entertainer outlet stores offering up to 70 percent off big brands like Lego and Barbie
• Closing-down sales in some branches with “everything must go” discounts
• Small toy ranges in Tesco Express stores, with stocking fillers from just a few pounds

You don’t need to buy the latest craze. A half-price Lego set or craft kit can be just as exciting as whatever’s trending on adverts.

Supermarket and high street bargains

Keep an eye on:

• Supermarket toy events
• Boots, B&M, Home Bargains, The Works and similar discount chains
• Clearance shelves, especially when packaging looks scruffy but the toy’s fine

Use loyalty schemes and cashback apps where you can, and combine offers with things you’re buying anyway.

Free and low-cost toy options all year

If money is tight, it can help to think about toys differently throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

Toy libraries

Toy libraries let you borrow toys for a small fee or, in some places, for free. You can swap them every few weeks, so your child gets “new” things to play with without you having to buy them.

They’re often based in community centres, preschools or libraries, with small membership fees and very low weekly hire costs. Others even offer free memberships for families on low incomes.

Search “toy library” plus your town, or ask your local council or children’s centre.

Toy sharing subscriptions

Some national toy-sharing services let you swap toys by post for a monthly fee. It’s still a cost, but for some families it works out cheaper than buying new all the time.

If you do sign up, look out for free trials, referral credits and second-hand bundles.

Free and low-cost gift ideas that still feel special

If you’re really up against it, this might be the year to shift the focus from “how many presents are under the tree” to “what memories can we make”.

Here are some low-cost or free gift ideas that still feel like a treat:

• Experience vouchers made by you: movie night at home, choosing dinner, staying up late, baking together, picking the music in the car
• Print out a “family day out” voucher for a free park trip with hot chocolate from a flask
• Second-hand toys cleaned up nicely, wrapped well and presented with pride
• Home-made craft kits: crayons, colouring sheets, stickers and a notebook in a “creative box”
• Pre-loved books wrapped individually so there’s still a pile to open

Talking to your kids if there will be fewer presents

Talking honestly with children can help take the pressure off you and them. Charities like Childline remind young people that it’s normal to feel worried or upset at Christmas, especially when money is tight or people at home are stressed.

You might:

• Explain that money is a bit tricky this year, but you’re doing your best
• Focus on what you’ll do together, rather than what you can’t buy
• Reassure them that it’s not their fault

Practical tips to make the most of any help

• Apply early – many toy appeals close in late November or early December, and some run out of toys
• Have details ready: your children’s ages, rough interests and clothing sizes if asked
• Be honest if you can’t afford presents – these schemes are made for families like yours
• Share gently – if you can, pass on details of these schemes to friends or local groups