Free toys for kids of armed forces serving in Afghanistan 16 November 2010 at 9:11PM edited 16 November 2010 at 9:21PM in UK armed forces MoneySaving 41 replies 13.9K views

Former_MSE_Archna

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News Of The World and Tesco are giving away free toys worth up to £25 to each child with a parent in the armed forces and in Afghanistan over Christmas, as part of their Toys For Our Boys initiative. Families need to register by 5 Dec.

Kids up to 16 get either a single toy worth £25 or several toys worth £25. Toys include Barbie Doggie Park Pets, Lego's Duplo gift sets, the Hannah Montana Microphone, Klipkitz Toy Story Woody, as well as New Bright remote-control cars.
[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] Who exactly is it for?
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Children get toys if they have a parent:

• In the Army, Navy or RAF,
• That belong to a regiment posted to Afghanistan over Christmas

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] How to apply
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Families in the Army, Navy or RAF will receive an email from the Ministry of Defence detailing how to claim their free Santa sack.

The email will include a promotional code which you'll need to enter on the News Of The World Toys For Our Boys page before 5 Dec.

You'll also need to say how old your kids are (so they get the right toys) and select one of 24 locations to collect the toys at.


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Once families have registered they'll need to check the Toys for Our Boys page after 5 Dec to get the date, time & exact location of where they collect the toys from (they couldn't tell us at the time of writing).

We've started a new thread for the weekly email to try and keep this on topic. Thanks to crazyterrier2000 for this year's spot.

Thanks to knithappens for the top spot.

NeverInDebt

What a nice gesture

ruthem215

Wonderful - deffo applies to me as my hubby is in afghanistan at the moment and will be back after christmas! The only thing that concerns me with it, is that I don't think I will be able to apply, because the 'email' that they will be sending to my hubby's work - he won't be able to receive as he cannot access his emails out there, and as you have to apply by the 5th Dec - won't be able to apply. Does anyone know when they will be sending out the emails? Has anyone received one yet?

BAILEYS6904

Ruth, might be worth you emailing them and asking the question. You might be able to get the email sent to the welfare officer maybe? You wont be in the only one in this position and you are exactly the person they are trying to reach so there will be workarounds xx

maddymoo

I tried to do this last year as my husband was in Afghanistan over Christmas, but for whatever reason my children didn't receive their gifts despite my application being acknowledged which was a real shame. He's away again at the moment but will hopefully be back for Christmas this year so I won't need to apply 2 years running.

It's a great idea and I hope that those children whose daddys are away over Christmas will benefit from this scheme.

avinabacca

Nice thought - and gesture which I'm sure will be very much appreciated by many kids whose Dads are abroad this time of year! - but I can't help thinking of all the kids this year whose parents are out of work through no fault of their own and who won't be getting twenty-five quid's worth of toys gratis. I would respectfully point out that men and women serving in the Forces are at least in employment.....

Mind, this wouldn't sit as well with the NOTW's "squaddies = heroes, unemployed = scroungers" editorial policy, would it?

MSE_Martin

avinabacca wrote: »

Nice thought - and gesture which I'm sure will be very much appreciated by many kids whose Dads are abroad this time of year! - but I can't help thinking of all the kids this year whose parents are out of work through no fault of their own and who won't be getting twenty-five quid's worth of toys gratis. I would respectfully point out that men and women serving in the Forces are at least in employment.....

Mind, this wouldn't sit as well with the NOTW's "squaddies = heroes, unemployed = scroungers" editorial policy, would it?

As a News of the World columnist, that certainly doesn't reflect my opinion.

As for the gifts to forces - remember this is for those who's parents aren't home at Chrsitmas - they're elesewhere serving, so I think there is some balance in this.

Of course though Christmas is a tough time for those who's parents are unemployed or struggling financially. I think you raise a good point - and have given me the idea to do a great hunt on it next week.

BLT_2

avinabacca wrote: »

Nice thought - and gesture which I'm sure will be very much appreciated by many kids whose Dads are abroad this time of year! - but I can't help thinking of all the kids this year whose parents are out of work through no fault of their own and who won't be getting twenty-five quid's worth of toys gratis. I would respectfully point out that men and women serving in the Forces are at least in employment.....

Mind, this wouldn't sit as well with the NOTW's "squaddies = heroes, unemployed = scroungers" editorial policy, would it?

Yep far better to spend 25 quid on children whose parents are not only in full time employment but also getting additional allowances for being there.

The alternative would be to donate 25 quid to homeless charities or needy old people and lets face it, that wouldn't garner much publicity would it.

MrsKevo

Does anyone know if this includes TA soldiers serving in Afghan or if it's just the regulars?

13Kent

I have e-mailed the News of the World to ask whether those children living at BFPO addresses who have parents serving in Afghanistan are going to be considered for this, as I believe the presents have to be collected from outlets in the UK. Living abroad makes it harder for those families anyway as they are so far away from friends and family and lack this support, I think something like this would be greatly appreciated. Those at BFPO addresses are often forgotten, or ineligible for things as they do not have a UK postcode in their address.

BAILEYS6904

Ive got to say, as a mam to a 6 year old, and having been made redundant last week, I dont resent this offer in any way, shape or form.

Thank God, this site (especially the grabbit forum) has enabled me to make sure my son has enough presents for Christmas. We are lucky that his dad (we are seperated) is still going to be around for my son this Christmas. There are countless children who parents serve in the armed forces that dont have that luxury, and this helps to make up for that slightly.

The likelihood is that there are going to be casualties and fatalities within our armed forces this Christmas period, and probably children affected by this. I think this offer, although in no way can make up for this risk, can at least show the gratitude we as a country owe to our soldiers, sailors and airforce personnel

xx