Number One Riverside Giving Back: Christmas toy appeal

The Christmas toy appeal is collecting donations until Friday, 11 December 2026.

As part of the 'Giving Back' Christmas toy appeal, you can donate gifts so local children living in poverty have a present to open on Christmas Day.

This appeal is organised by the 'Number One Riverside Giving Back CIO’ staff-run registered charity (no 1215663) in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Football Club, Your Trust and Rochdale Town Centre Management.

Presents you can give

You can donate any toy or gift which is:

• New
• Not gift wrapped
• Suitable for a child aged 0–16 years old

We'd particularly welcome presents for babies and teenagers as we don't usually receive as many for these age groups.

Gift ideas

Here are some ideas you may find useful when deciding what to donate:

• 0-3 years old: dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, puzzles.
• 3-5 years old: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles.
• 5-9 years old: educational games and toys, colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets, books, puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords.
• 9-12 years old: games and toys, stationery, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats.
• 13-16 years old: books, make-up and toiletries made with non-allergic ingredients if possible, gloves, scarves, hats, hair accessories, gift vouchers.

How to donate

There are 3 ways to donate a toy or gift to the appeal

In-person

You can drop off your presents at any of the venues listed below. Please only drop off gifts during the venue's opening times.

• Any library in Rochdale borough – find the opening times and address of your local library

Rochdale

• AST Hampsons – view AST Hampsons opening times and address
• Globe House – view Globe House opening times and address
• Lock 50 – view Lock 50 opening times and address
• Rochdale Leisure Centre – view Rochdale Leisure Centre opening times and address
• Rochdale Music Service – view opening times and address for Rochdale Music Centre at The Butts in Rochdale Town Centre
• Rochdale Riverside Management Office – view Rochdale Riverside Management Office opening times and address
• Rochdale Sixth Form College – view Rochdale Sixth Form College opening times and address
• Rochdale Training – view Rochdale Training opening times and address
• The Crown Oil Arena – view The Crown Oil Arena opening times and address
• The Trade Centre UK – view opening times and address for The Trade Centre UK on Sandbrook Park

Middleton

• Ducklings Nursery – view Ducklings Nursery opening times and address
• Middleton Arena – view Middleton Arena opening times and address

Heywood

• Heywood Sports Village – view Heywood Sports Village opening times and address
• The Old Police Station – view The Old Police Station opening times and address

Pennines (Firgrove, Littleborough, Milnrow, Newhey, Smallbridge and Wardle)

• Brennan Funeral Services – view opening times and address for Brennan Funeral Services in Littleborough
• Littleborough Sports Centre – view Littleborough Sports Centre opening times and address
• Reuse Littleborough – view opening times and address for Reuse Littleborough
• The Funky Deer – view opening times and address for The Funky Deer in Milnrow

In the post

If you can't get to one of the drop-off points in Rochdale borough, you can post your gift to us instead. 

Ordering online

You've also got the option to order a gift online and have it delivered straight to the appeal.

Address for posting your gifts or ordering online

Number One Riverside Giving Back – Christmas Toy Appeal
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale OL16 1XU.

Support for the Christmas toy appeal

You've helped provide some much-needed festive cheer for thousands of children and teenagers, donating over 57,000 toys since the appeal began in 2014.

In 2024 you donated over 10,000 toys, which council staff, schools and partners in the voluntary sector distributed to local children. 

Local businesses and services supporting the Christmas toy appeal

Number One Riverside Giving Back would like to say thank you to the local businesses and services for supporting the 2026 Christmas toy appeal.

• Alpine Recovery
• Altus Educational Trust
• Ascend Properties
• AST Hampson Solicitors
• B&M Bargains, Rochdale
• Balmers Groundcare
• Bamford Academy
• Brakes International
• Ciceley Commercial Vehicles
• Commercial Filters
• Dale Industrial Hose and Fittings
• Faun Refuse Collection Vehicles
• Greens Automotive
• Holy Trinity Primary School
• Hunter Price
• HY Solicitors
• Lodge Tyres
• Marlow Products
• Marks and Spencer, Rochdale Riverside
• Nando's, Rochdale Riverside
• Norden Primary Academy
• Norton Grange Hotel
• Renolds
• Rochdale Football Club
• Rochdale Mayfield Rugby Club
• Rochdale Riverside
• Rochdale Sixth Form College
• Roland Barnes
• Schofield and Sons
• Sharrocks Groundcare
• Springfield Park Care Home
• Star Procurement
• STM Agency
• The Baum
• The Highfield Hospital
• The Trade Centre UK
• The Works, Rochdale Riverside

This appeal is run by the ''Number One Riverside Giving Back CIO’ staff-run charity, supported by Rochdale Borough Council. The council does not endorse the organisations supporting the toy appeal, the views they express or the products or services they offer.