children's Xmas party

GemmaE

Hi all,
It's been a while since I posted, however I am looking for some help. I am currently working for an NHS trust and for the last year or so have been in charge of our staff social events programme, which is a way of engaging staff on no budget. I have organised a few trips, days out, parties etc and have managed to accrue a small surplus of £350 which I intend to reinvest in a childrens party at Christmas for our staff. I have so far organised a venue, disco, photo booth for free and have set aside £100 for food, costumes, etc. The age range is 0_11 and I am hoping to give each child a present (santa is also coming).
can anyone give me any advice on where I can get cheap but good quality gifts, I am charging an entry fee of £2 per child just so people turn up, any non attends will automatically donate their gift to the children's ward.
the fee is to ensure people turn up more than generating any money.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

Pun

Your local Poundshop is probably as good as any - no postage costs and if you shop during the year, their stock turnover should offer some reasonable options, assuming you have a price of about £1 a head in mind.

mum2one

I'd go for £1 shop as well, look throughout the season as your get some great items summer as well as winter, and for all ages.

x

GemmaE

Thanks guys, I do pop in quite regularly so will keep an eye out. I need to keep receipts for everything so may need a bigger folder!

DCFC79

Could have a look in the other discounters like Poundworld, 99p stores as well as b&m and home bargains and pound stretcher.

Tealblue

Worth having a look on ebay and searching under Christmas stocking fillers. Plenty of the stuff is likely to be unsuitable, but if you get sellers offering pre-filled stockings (or collections of stuff for stockings), worth seeing if they would co-operate by sending you some extra-nice stuff....nothing to lose by asking.

GemmaE

Thanks, no harm in asking. My only concern is making sure the gifts are a comparable rep, regardless of cost. People complain about anything and I don't want to be accused of favouratism. Thanks for your help

kingfisherblue

Have you thought about The Book People? They have collections of books that work out at about £1 each, and you can buy for the different age ranges. P&P is free when the order is over £25, and they sometimes have offers as well, such as free P&P when spending over £10.


Books are also very easy to wrap, look like a decent present, and most children and parents will appreciate them. Speaking personally, I'd prefer my children to have a book instead of a cheap piece of plastic tat. Having said the, I'm lucky that my children are keen readers.

littleredhen

I would also say the book people I wouldn't want a toy from the pound shop, sorry,

Tealblue

Pound Shops sell plenty of craft stuff of very good quality - WH Smith sell many identical items at five times the price.

Don't be swayed by snobbery!

Middlestitch

Kids generally love things which light up - and happily there are lots of battery-operated little novelties which are cheap without being tacky. Obvious candidate is a pack of light sticks (the sort you bend to activate) + connectors to make jewellery/models/just wave around. Poundshop has a tube of 15 8" lightsticks in assorted colours with plenty of connectors.

For the tinies, how about a colour changing nightlight or bath toy? Amazon and ebay have plenty for around the £1 mark, mainly from overseas - but you've got plenty of time for delivery if you are planning now for Christmas. Examples: http://www.amazon.co.uk/SODIAL-Star-Shape-Color-Changing-Decoration/dp/B00KBPY1NG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1430075741&sr=8-10&keywords=night+light+colour+change or http://www.amazon.co.uk/YKS-Dolphin-Colorful-Flashing-Changing/dp/B00GK8JYEO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1430075835&sr=8-9&keywords=light+up+bath+toy or http://www.amazon.co.uk/YKS-Changing-Colors-Flower-Romantic/dp/B00GN3PVMU/ref=pd_sim_light_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=08XH0VHKPGCYAXYY5C7H

Link to a whole load on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=colour+changing+bath+toy&_sop=15