What families say about us

I attended with Felicity when we first moved to the area and it gave me the chance to make "mum friends" and gave me a mood boost when I was overwhelmed and lonely. I now attend with Felicity and my second child Rowan so that Felicity can play with friends while I have a bit of quiet time with the baby. Such a wonderful programme and a valuable resource.

My daughter is very shy around new people but the toy library has helped build her confidence. We come every week and she loves it — she'll play happily even when new people come in. It's the group she's most confident in. Sarah does an amazing job making even the shy ones feel involved.

Finding a group which takes toddlers and newborns is impossible — one of your children is always treated as a nuisance. The toy library offers fun for both my children. It's also allowed me to make friends with so many other parents, which is a lifesaver as parenting can be quite isolating. My daughter has made a best friend, and watching them play make-believe is the sweetest thing. This group is vital for our family and we always look forward to our Wednesday there together.

The toy library is so important to us. We volunteered while we were going through the adoption process and found it so helpful — Ann-Marie was so welcoming and supportive. Now we bring our daughter to weekly Stay & Play sessions, which are great for meeting other parents and for children to interact. The lending service is a great idea for saving money and space at home — our daughter can try new toys every week if she likes! Every town should have a toy library, and every family could benefit from one like we have.

We love the toy library and have been going for about 6 months now. It gives Josie a chance to play with toys we don't have, and I can see her new interests too. A hot drink for me and a snack for Josie is a lovely perk and helps us get through tired mornings. Everyone is always friendly and the toys are always age-appropriate, clean and working. A real asset to the village that I always tell mum friends about.

Quite simply, we love it — the community feeling here is second to none. Both myself and my daughter walk through the door and feel like we've come home. The children are so free and relaxed, and I love how they get to interact with different adults. It's just a lovely way to spend a weekday morning. The toy library has created something very special.

As a parent of a 2-year-old, a space that is both safe and genuinely enriching can be a challenge — but the Derbyshire Toy Library's weekly Stay & Play sessions have become the absolute highlight of our week. I've seen a remarkable shift in my daughter's confidence; these sessions are the perfect "laboratory" for her to test out new skills. Beyond the toys, it's a place where we as parents can connect, share advice, and realise we are not alone. The staff are incredibly welcoming and clearly passionate about child development, and their model of borrowing and sharing toys is such an important lesson in sustainability for the next generation.

We've been coming to Belper Toy Library Stay & Play for a few months and it's been absolutely brilliant. All the volunteers create such a welcome and fun environment for all the children to play and be themselves. We're so lucky to have such a great place to come. Thank you to all the volunteers for all the hard work!

As a local childminder, Derbyshire Toy Library means I don't have to keep purchasing different toys. I've been attending the Stay & Play sessions at Belper Community Hall for around 18 months, where Ann-Marie and all of the volunteers are very welcoming towards me and the children in our care. The range of toys and the warm, welcoming space mean my Wednesday mornings — and the children — look forward to attending. The open garden in the summer means they're active in a safe space too. It's hard to believe Derbyshire Toy Library is run by volunteers. Keep up the good work!

I value the toy library as part of the local community. It's a safe environment for me and my child to meet other local mums and children, where we can both socialise and chat. I think it's important to meet other families in your area — it's important for our mental health. My child is learning important social and life skills that will help set them up for life.

Coming to Stay & Play gives us the chance to get out, meet others and try some new toys. It adds structure to our week and we especially enjoy the drink and snacks. We've also made use of the Toy Library, which let us try out different toys whilst keeping the house clutter-free!

Derbyshire Toy Library is a fantastic charity, providing a warm, welcoming and fun place for families to come and chat and play together. The offer of toys to take home is great, letting children experience new toys at a low cost — perfect for birthday parties and events. It's a wonderful place to visit with my 2-year-old and we would be lost without it. The staff are friendly and enthusiastic and really bring the community together. Thank you, Toy Library!

The toy library has been such a lovely, community-driven space for our family to come to. We love seeing the village's children come together and play. Thank you for being so welcoming.

We come to the Toy Library playgroup every Monday. Our grandson Ben loves coming and practically runs in. He's made good friends — as my husband and I have too. It's a great atmosphere, relaxed and easy, and there's a wonderful mix of toys for all the age groups. There are plenty of books, and the music at the end of the sessions is fabulous. Thank you Sarah and Anne — I would recommend it to anybody.

I've been coming to Wednesday Stay & Play with our two boys for nearly five years and would recommend it to any parent of babies or toddlers. The open play environment and range of toys means the kids are always engaged. The parents always help out, which gives a lovely community feel. We've also used the Toy Library throughout — the toys are organised into age-appropriate bundles, making our choice so much easier, and it's so cheap and saves filling your house with toys. Both are a fantastic option for any family with young children.

My granddaughter loves her time at Stay & Play. The session leaders are always welcoming and friendly, there's a great choice of toys and stimulating interaction, a lovely atmosphere and healthy snacks. There's an obvious knowledge of individual children and their needs. It has been a pleasure to attend with my little one.

I've been coming to Stay & Play for over 3 years — first with my grandson Arthur, now with my granddaughter Eleanor. It is wonderful. I've met lots of very nice people: other mums, dads and grandparents, and we all have fun and learn a lot. Now, I could write a lot more, but I need to go and play!

Loving bringing our grandson to the Crich Toy Library on Mondays. He has a huge choice of toys to engage with and loves the singing of his favourite songs at the end of the session.

Our family has been coming to the Toy Library for over 10 years with our three children. All of our children have loved it — from the range of toys, to the friends they make, to the snacks and the singing. As adults, we've felt welcomed, cared for, and have really appreciated the sense of community that the Toy Library has offered us, fostered so well by the volunteers and staff who run it.

Derbyshire Toy Libraries is wonderful — a lovely little play group. I've been attending for a few weeks with my son Albie. He loves coming each week and playing with the other children. Friendly staff and lovely parents.