The Salvation Army is giving away free toys and children’s books this Christmas, with families able to pick up one gift for each child.
The giveaway starts on Tuesday 1 December 2026 and runs for one week at participating Salvation Army charity shops and donation centres.
The charity’s trading company, which operates more than 250 shops and donation centres across the UK, announced the offer on 3 November.
Families can choose one free toy or children’s book per child, thanks to donations from the public.
Who can get a free toy or book?
The Salvation Army says families and guardians can simply visit a participating shop and choose a gift.
Its official announcement doesn’t mention any income limits, benefits requirements or need for a referral.
You can choose either a toy or a children’s book for each child, rather than one of each.
The charity hasn’t confirmed whether children need to be with you when collecting their gifts, so it’s worth asking your local shop if you’re planning to visit without them.
How to claim your free Christmas gift
There’s no application process mentioned in the announcement.
Here’s what to do:
- Visit the Salvation Army shop finder and search for your nearest charity shop or donation centre.
- Check that the shop is taking part in the Christmas giveaway and ask about availability.
- Visit during the giveaway week, starting 1 December.
- Ask a member of staff about the free toy or book offer.
The gifts have been donated, so the choice of toys and books will vary between shops.
The charity hasn’t guaranteed that every shop will have gifts available throughout the week.
Skint Dad says:
This is a lovely gesture from the Salvation Army, and from everyone who’s donated toys and books to make it possible.
With Christmas presents putting extra pressure on family budgets, being able to pick up a free gift for each child could make a real difference.
It’s worth checking your nearest shop is taking part and has gifts available before making a special journey, particularly if you’ll need to pay for petrol or bus fares.
Where else can you get help with Christmas presents?
The free shop giveaway is separate from the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Present Appeal, which provides gifts to children and families who need extra support.
The Present Appeal works differently, with local arrangements for getting help.
You can visit the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal website to check whether your local centre is taking part and what registration options are available.
We’ve also put together a guide on where to get free or cheap Christmas toys and gifts for children, including other charities, local toy appeals and ways to find help near you.
