Peter Harris on the Ely Christmas Toy Bank Campaign

This Christmas, the Ely Standard is supporting the Toy Bank in Ely as part of its 2024 Christmas Campaign to boost the number of donations made to the group.

Peter Harris set up the appeal in 2022 after his time as a councillor at the City of Ely Council. While serving, Peter met several families who told him that they were worried about affording presents at Christmas.

Peter Harris set up the Christmas Toy Bank after serving as a City of Ely councillor. (Image: Newsquest) Peter said: "I wanted to do see what I could do for people, so I came up with the idea of a Toy Bank, where families in need could choose a toy.

"It took off from there. I was overwhelmed with the generosity and support from the community."

The Christmas Toy Bank donations are open for 2024. (Image: Ely Toy Bank) The former councillor said it was an "overpowering situation", both in terms of the generosity from the community and they demand they saw.

There was a high demand from people in East Cambridgeshire villages who did not have the means to travel to the Ely Toy Bank, so Peter and his team organised transport to deliver presents. 

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Peter said that the Ely Toy Bank reaches people who have "fallen through the cracks in society" to "spread joy as far as we can".

Donations have already started arriving at Fresh Dance and Fitness Studio. (Image: Liz Sayers) In the space of two years, the Toy Bank has grown into something beyond Peter's wildest dreams. It now supports people across East Cambridgeshire and supports people in the Fens as well.

Peter described this as "rewarding". He said: "It is so lovely to touch on the generosity of spirit.

"It doesn’t matter you are or where you come from – if you are in need, we are here to help you.

"This is what Christmas is all about."