The future of one of Greenwich’s best-loved charities has been secured, three months after it was told to leave its long-established home at Charlton House.
Charlton Toy Library will move into new premises at Langthorne House, on the Springfield Estate, later this month, ending weeks of uncertainty for the volunteers who lend toys, games and puzzles and equipment such as baby monitors and stair gates to local families.
It also offers stay-and-play sessions for members and the chance for families to meet other parents.
The charity was founded by local families in 1982, and had not been charged rent for 24 years to acknowledge its part in helping win grants for Charlton House’s upkeep.
But in the summer Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust, which took over Charlton House from the Greenwich Council a decade ago, said it needed to bring in a commercial tenant to raise money after struggling to raise the funding to maintain the Jacobean manor house, which dates back to 1612.
John Stephen, the chair of the toy library, said: “While we acknowledge our strong and long-lasting connection with Charlton House, this move represents an exciting new chapter for the toy library.
“We are delighted to be staying in Charlton, close to the community we have served for over 40 years. Our new space will allow us to continue our services for years to come, and we look forward to shaping this new environment into a welcoming hub, ensuring that the toy library remains a cherished resource for the community.”
The toy library worked with the council and the trust to find a new home, which will be overseen by Charlton Triangle Homes, part of the Peabody housing association. The new base is across the road from Charlton House.
Jasmin Thompson, the community development and programmes manager at Charlton Triangle, said: “We are excited about the opportunity to welcome Charlton Toy Library into Langhorne House. This move strengthens our collaboration with a local charity that has common values and allows us to support a vital service that has been a cornerstone of the community for decades. We are dedicated to ensuring that this transition is smooth and beneficial for everyone involved.”
The charity will move into its new home on November 20, although a reopening date is yet to be confirmed.
A joint statement from Greenwich Council and the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust said: “We recognise the value that Charlton Toy Library, through the hard work of its staff and volunteers, brings to local families. We’ve worked together to find the toy library a new home so it can continue to serve the community.
“This will allow Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust to rent the same space to a commercial tenant in Charlton House to generate an income that can help protect the future of one of the borough’s most unique landmarks, so it can always be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike.”
Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust was spun off in 2014 amid the first waves of government austerity cuts. It runs Charlton House, the Tudor Barn in Eltham, the borough’s archive and its war memorials.
The council hoped at the time that as a charity, the trust would find it easier to apply for funding. But in the long term the move has backfired, with the trust struggling to win grants to restore Charlton House.
When Charlton House was run by the council, it functioned as a community centre. But figures close to the trust have said there is a conflict between this and the need to raise money to meet the huge costs of maintaining a historic building.
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