Opportunities with Play Action

March 2022 Play Action International launches nationwide appeal to deliver toys for 50,000 Ukrainian refugees Award-winning children’s charity, Play Action International, has today announced the launch of its ‘Play Box Appeal’. With the UK expected to host up to 200,000 Ukrainian refugees, the appeal aims to support at least 50,000 Ukrainian children with the toys and play items they need to begin to recover from the conflict they have suffered through and begin to settle here. Play Action International is accepting donations from the public to provide shoe boxes full of toys for primary school-aged Ukrainian children seeking refuge in the UK. The appeal has been created to support trauma affected children to process their experiences, express their thoughts and feelings and reduce stress through play. To support the appeal, Play Action International is partnering with independent carrier Yodel to support the delivery of donations to the charity, where they can then be distributed to those children most in need. To make a shoebox donation, visit Play International’s website where you will be directed to print off a label via Yodel’s website. Donors will be able to choose any of Yodel’s 6,000 convenient drop off points that are within the Collect+ delivered by Yodel network. They will then be processed and delivered to Play Action International’s partner organisations, who will distribute donations to those in need. Murielle Maupoint, CEO at Play Action International added: Ukraine’s children are going through incredibly traumatic experiences. By supporting them with toys, we hope to give them space to begin to process and recover from the experience. We’re excited that Yodel has agreed to support our appeal and with the support of the business’ network we will be able to ensure that children affected by the conflict are comforted by the generosity of people across the UK and know they have not been forgotten.” Mike Hancox, CEO at Yodel said: “We’re very proud to be partnering with Play Action International to launch the Play Box Appeal and to be able to support Ukrainian children and families at such a difficult time. Our network will help much needed toys and play items to be collected across the UK. Our Collect+ delivered by Yodel service offers collection points across the country giving people an easy way to donate.” The Play Box Appeal aims to provide these boxes to Ukrainian children arriving in the UK over the coming weeks, as well as to Ukrainian children seeking refuge in Eastern Europe. To find out more about this new partnership or for more information on how to donate, visit https://playactioninternational.org/ukraine-play-box-appeal/.