The Toybox Charity

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1084243
• Annual Income: £2,192,548 (2023-24)
• Geographic Focus: International (Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Kenya, Ethiopia)
• Grant Range: Up to £40,000 for pilot projects
• Partnership Model: Long-term partnerships with established local NGOs
• Current Status: Not accepting new partnership applications

Contact Details

Address: Challenge House, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6DP

Phone: 01908 360 080 (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm)

Email:

• General inquiries: info@toybox.org
• Supporter relations: supporters@toybox.org

Website: www.toybox.org.uk

Philanthropic Giving Contact: Nicky Paterson, 01908 360079, nicky.paterson@toybox.org

Overview

The Toybox Charity, registered in 2001, is an international development agency dedicated to eliminating child street involvement worldwide. With an annual income of £2.2 million, Toybox operates exclusively through a grant-making partnership model, funding local NGOs in seven countries across Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The charity's CEO, Lynne Morris, was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to children in the UK and abroad. Over the past 12 years, Toybox has supported over 221,000 children, parents, and caregivers through its partner network.

Toybox's approach prioritizes locally-led development, with Morris stating: “Local knowledge and expertise is key to our strategy.” The organization is in the second year of its current strategic plan, aiming to reach 30,000 children and young people in street situations through active, sustainable engagement with local partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Established Partner Funding

• Long-term, multi-year grants to eight established partner organizations
• Funding amounts not publicly disclosed
• Focus on capacity building, training, and programme support

Hope for the Streets Fund (Periodic)

• £40,000 maximum for initial one-year pilot projects
• Possibility of multi-year funding following successful pilot
• Administration costs capped at 30% of total budget
• Previous rounds targeted: Latin America (2021), Malawi and Ethiopia (2024)

Priority Areas

Toybox's work focuses on three core intervention strategies:

Prevention

• Birth registration programmes (target: 3,000+ children supported annually)
• Family strengthening initiatives
• Community awareness campaigns

Intervention

• Street outreach services
• Emergency support (food, medical care, clothing)
• Psychosocial support and counseling

Reintegration

• Formal and non-formal education access (target: 2,000+ children annually)
• Alternative education provision
• Skills training and livelihood development
• Family reintegration support

Cross-cutting priorities:

• Legal identity and documentation
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Inclusive programming for children with disabilities
• Access to justice
• Sexual and reproductive health

What They Don't Fund

• UK-based organizations or projects
• Direct service delivery (Toybox works through partners, not direct implementation)
• Organizations with annual income exceeding £700,000/$885,000
• Organizations outside their target geographic regions
• Projects not focused on children in street situations

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

David Westwood — Chair (appointed 2022)

• Background: Extensive experience with World Vision in advocacy and international development
• Currently Director of Policy and Programmes for World Vision UK
• Lead Trustee for Safeguarding

Bill Rockett — Chair of Finance and Audit Committee

• 30-year career as international CFO in US and UK high-tech sector
• Expertise in strategic planning and treasury management

Carina McLeod — Trustee

• CEO of eCommerce Nurse
• Nearly 20 years in online retail and consumer brands
• Motivated by experiences in Latin America

Fernando Caicedo — Trustee

• Head of HR Operations at Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Expertise in organizational development and change management
• Lead Trustee for Climate and Environment

Francis Goss — Trustee

• Director for Organizational Wellbeing at Gallagher
• Lead Trustee for Data Protection

Jamie Sambruck — Trustee

• Director at Daiwa Capital Markets
• Nearly two decades in financial markets and investment banking

Vikki Brophy — Trustee (appointed 2024)

• Over a decade managing complex international development programs
• Experience with UK government, EC, and USAID funding
• Worked across multiple African and Asian countries

Senior Leadership Team

Lynne Morris OBE — CEO

• Joined Toybox in 2012
• Previously held Director roles at World Vision UK and Spurgeons
• Led creation of birth registration programme (launched Guatemala 2013)
• Awarded OBE in 2022 for services to children
• Quote: “I am grateful this award gives me the opportunity to raise the profile of street children around the world and highlight the completely unacceptable fact that millions of children live or work on dangerous streets.”

Graeme Everist — Director of Finance & Resources

• Joined April 2018 from 20-year career in theatre management
• Currently pursuing MBA through Open University

Naomi Hall Opiyo — Director of Impact and Programmes

• Joined April 2020 with 18 years in international development
• Seven years working in East Africa on programme management
• Oversees safeguarding initiatives

Naomi Lewis — Director of Marketing & Fundraising

• Joined September 2013 with Third Sector experience since 2003
• Specialist in philanthropic giving and supporter care

How to Apply to The Toybox Charity

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Toybox Charity does not have an open, ongoing application process. The organization explicitly states: “Our current commitments to our carefully chosen local partners mean we are not looking for any new partnerships at the moment.”

Occasional Competitive Funding Rounds

When funding is available through programmes like the Hope for the Streets Fund:

1. Announcements made on Toybox website and through international NGO funding platforms
2. Applications accepted via email to partnerships@toybox.org
3. Proposals must be submitted in English or Spanish
4. Complete application includes project proposal and budget according to applicant guidelines

Eligibility Requirements (when funds are open):

• Registered NGO with proof of registration in target country
• Working in urban areas
• Have not previously received funding from Toybox
• Average organizational income less than £700,000/$885,000 annually
• Experienced in working with children and young people in street situations
• Experience in at least two of Toybox's focus sectors

Current Partner Organizations

Toybox currently funds eight partner organizations:

• CHETNA (India) - Since 2015, focusing on education and child participation in Delhi
• Astha (India)
• Pendekezo Letu (PKL) (Kenya) - Operating in Nairobi
• SathSath (Nepal) - Working with street children since 1998
• Fundación Alalay (Bolivia) - Operating since 1990 in La Paz and El Alto
• CONACMI (Guatemala) - Established 1994 in Guatemala City
• Puerta de Esperanza (Guatemala)
• Fundación Viva (El Salvador) - Including night shelter operations
• CHADET (Ethiopia) - Partnership began 2024, supporting 250 children in Addis Ababa

Decision Timeline

For competitive grant rounds:

• Application deadline typically 8-12 weeks from announcement
• Decision timeline not publicly disclosed
• Successful pilot projects considered for multi-year funding based on performance

Application Success Factors

For organizations in target regions when funding rounds are announced:

Partnership Philosophy: Toybox emphasizes that “local organisations are best placed to find the most appropriate solutions to remove and prevent children from becoming street connected.” Applications should demonstrate deep local knowledge and community connections.

Capacity and Scale: Organizations should have proven track record but remain small-to-medium sized (under £700,000 annual income), demonstrating capacity for growth with Toybox support.

Multi-Sector Approach: Successful partners work across at least two of Toybox's priority areas, demonstrating holistic understanding of street children's needs.

Safeguarding Commitment: Toybox places heavy emphasis on safeguarding, with dedicated trustee oversight. Applications must demonstrate robust child protection policies and implementation capacity.

Collaborative Spirit: Toybox describes providing “significant experience, skills and resources which can help build impactful partnerships.” They seek partners open to capacity building, training, and collaborative monitoring and evaluation.

Evidence of Impact: Toybox conducts regular project evaluations. Partners should demonstrate ability to measure and report on outcomes, particularly around birth registration numbers and education access.

CEO Lynne Morris emphasizes: “To me, courage is about changing yourself” - indicating Toybox values partners willing to adapt, learn, and evolve their approaches based on evidence and collaboration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not for UK Organizations: This funder exclusively supports local NGOs in Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Kenya, and Ethiopia - not UK-based organizations
• Currently Closed: Toybox is not accepting new partnership applications and works with established long-term partners
• Occasional Opportunities: Watch for periodic competitive funding rounds like the Hope for the Streets Fund, typically announced with 8-12 weeks' notice
• Local NGOs Only: When opportunities arise, they target registered NGOs in specific countries, working directly with street-connected children
• Long-term Partnership Model: Toybox seeks sustainable, multi-year partnerships with capacity building support, not one-off project grants
• Small-to-Medium Organizations: Target organizations have annual income under £700,000, allowing room for growth
• Monitor Funding Platforms: Past calls have been advertised through fundsforngos.org and similar international development funding platforms

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Weseehope
• The Global Fund For Children Uk Trust
• The Stone Family Foundation
• The Clarkson Foundation
• Ubs Optimus Foundation Uk
• Laureus Sport For Good Foundation
• The Kitchen Table Charities Trust
• The Indigo Trust
• Belron Ronnie Lubner Charitable Foundation
• The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation

References

• The Toybox Charity website, www.toybox.org.uk
• Charity Commission Register, entry 1084243, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1084243
• Toybox Leadership Team page, https://toybox.org.uk/about/leadership
• Toybox Trustees page, https://toybox.org.uk/about/trustees
• Toybox Partners page, https://toybox.org.uk/our-work/partners
• Toybox Common Questions, https://toybox.org.uk/about/common-questions
• Hope for the Streets Fund announcements via fundsforNGOs, https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/toybox-hope-for-the-streets-fund-malawi-and-ethiopia/
• “Toybox CEO awarded OBE for supporting children,” https://toybox.org.uk/news/toybox-ceo-awarded-obe-for-supporting-children
• “Expanding educational access for street children in Addis Ababa,” https://toybox.org.uk/news/expanding-educational-access-for-street-children-in-addis-ababa
• Charity Commission financial data for years ending 30 June 2023 and 2024