Toy appeal sees Didcot charity Play2Give smash previous record set in 2024
A popular and well established Oxfordshire Christmas appeal is celebrating its best and biggest collection from the kindness of the Oxfordshire community.
Sleigh2Give, the annual festive campaign of Didcot born charity Play2Give, and now in its 11th year, has seen its largest ever number of presents given from the public – smashing the previous toy drive’s record collection last year.
The Sleigh2Give seasonal appeal – launched in 2015 – is Play2Give’s annual Christmas drive set up to spread cheer, joy and smiles originally created as an one off toy collection for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, and has fast grown each Christmas with the pile of presents, and the number of organisations taking part, all increasing each year.
This year’s 11th campaign saw over 60 organisations join in – from donation points to internal collections and fundraising methods such as Christmas bazaars, hair braiding, quiz nights and selling doughnuts, to provide toys and gifts from young and old to families and to reward hard working NHS staff.
The Play2Give charity, which inspires the annual gift giving appeal, was founded by Didcot’s Andrew Baker, to continue the fundraising efforts he first began at St Birinus School – one of the schools who helped to raise toy donations this year – in 2003 aged 14, to give back to the children’s hospital teams who cared for him from birth, and the brain surgery aged 12, which inspired the 37-year-old’s mission two decades ago to say thank you.
Sleigh2Give supported 12 organisations this Christmas, with the Children’s Hospital receiving its highest volume of toys in recent years. Sobell House, siblings of poorly babies in the neonatal care unit, young carers, Oxford Head Injury Services, Wigod Way Wallingford Family Centre, Didcot Foodbank and two local branches of Home Start, besides some individual children most in need and in crisis, all received an elfy dose of generosity from Sleigh2Give.
Gyms and school children to supermarkets and dance schools to children’s karate clubs, businesses, shops and cafes all took part and helped to gather an estimated 8,000-gifts across a three-month long collection. Schools including Wallingford School and Didcot Girls, Willowcroft School and St John Fisher Primary in Oxford were amongst those organisations who gathered gifts.
The 2025 campaign came to a close on Friday (December 19) with Santa, Mrs Claus and the Elf visiting the JR and Sobell House in heart-warming deliveries supported in transportation by Driving Miss Daisy and ATA Logistics, and even saw a penguin, real-life Christmas tree and cracker help transport cages loads up onto the children’s wards, to lift spirits and raise smiles plenty on the faces of poorly children – some who had been in the hospital for months on end.
A spokesperson for SSNAP – the charity supporting the neonatal care unit at the John Radcliffe, in a heartfelt thank you, said: “Words cannot fully express the sheer joy and comfort your support brings to so many families facing incredibly challenging times in the neonatal care unit. A heartfelt thank you to you (Andy) and your dedicated team who work tirelessly throughout the year to make such a meaningful difference.
They continued: “The gifts for siblings who have critically ill brothers or sisters being cared for over the festive season will be absolutely delighted with the choice of gifts carefully chosen this Christmas. On behalf of SSNAP the neonatal families and every member of staff that you gave your presence and presents to and have helped, we thank you sincerely and appreciate your ongoing support and dedication to SSNAP and so many worthwhile charities.”
CEO of ITB Holdings, Amanda Burch, whose hoard of companies raised funds, provided toys and sponsored a van to help transport gifts, commented: “Andrew you consistently put your life’s passion – and the needs of others – before yourself. That level of commitment does not go unnoticed. Thank you to you and your team for everything you do.”
Health play specialist, Jo Pinney, at Oxford Children’s Hospital, said: “Visits like this make such a difference to children and families during what can be a difficult time. Meeting father Christmas really lifts everyone’s spirits and creates special memories that last well beyond Christmas. For some families, they are unable to take their children to meet Father Christmas due to their hospital admission, so for him to come to them instead, is a Christmas wish come true.
Jo continued: “It’s always a privilege and great fun to welcome Sleigh2Give to the hospital and we are very grateful to Andy Baker (MBE) and his team for their time and support. The presents that they have collected from the public for us, have exceeded any expectations that we had. All children in hospital over Christmas will be able to receive a gift thanks to them.”
Andy remarked: “I just want to add the biggest of thank you to each and every person and organisation and the whole community for helping in another amazing team effort to make such a meaningful difference with just the joy of a toy or gift with memories will last for a long time, to really help spirits and joy to so many in need, and less fortunate. Sleigh2Give is immensely grateful and for helping to raise a record amount in presents that wouldn’t be possible without the helping hands of Oxfordshire, we continue to be blown away by the community’s love and support for my tiny charity which makes such a substantial impact each year.”
This year also saw Play2Give provide around 12 boxes of toys to top up the Children’s Hospital provisions, due to last year’s overwhelming response, and this year’s record amount of toys will repeat the same for 2026 – meaning that young patients spending time in hospital for procedures and day cases over the coming months, will receive a toy.
This year’s record-breaking Sleigh2Give comes off the back of Play2Give’s fifth and largest ever Easter campaign, which saw over 1,700 eggs given out last April to families, young and older patients across the John Radcliffe and hospices. The sixth Easter bunny crusade will launch in the new year.
Other year-round events and charitable activities held by the volunteer-run Play2Give group included its sixth black-tie ball, its 14th football contest, bingo nights, Christmas market and tombolas amongst raffles and individuals sponsored efforts.
To donate to Play2Give, or details of how to get involved, visit play2give.org.uk