Radio Skye’ Cram the Van Christmas Toy Appeal 2025 is LIVE! Supporting families across Skye and Lochalsh during the festive season.
CRAM THE VAN 2025
‘I’m absolutely behind Cram the Van Christmas Toy Appeal, in a year when families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, this is an opportunity to gift brand new toys to children. It’s a great appeal, but this year in particular, it might be more important than ever.
MSP Kate Forbes
Radio Skye’ Cram the Van Christmas Toy Appeal had a huge boast in October with it’s 48 Hour Live donation drive raising £6600 for this year’s appeal. The toy appeal has now launched with a record number of places to drop toys off from Lochcarron to Uig. The team delivered big red toy bins across the listening area and people will have until Sunday the 8th of December to drop off brand new toys that will be distributed to families in time for Christmas.
The appeal which works directly with partner organisations such as Highland Council Childrens services, Childrens health teams, Skye & Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau, Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers and schools is completely confidential and is designed to help families prepare for Christmas in a supportive and dignified way. Radio Skye only gets a list of ages and genders; the gifts are then collected by the agencies for delivery a week before Christmas. This means that families can wrap the gifts to give to their children without the worry about the cost.
Last year the station supplied presents and gift vouchers to over 250 young people, the biggest year yet and the station expect similar numbers this year. The campaign supports all age groups from babies and teenagers up to 19 years of age. Money raised is used to buy extra gifts for infants and gift vouchers for the teenage age group, this gives families options to either buy gifts with the voucher or give the voucher for their children to choose their own presents.
The campaign which was launched over 11 years ago now was initiated to support families who struggle to afford Christmas in the local area. Over the last few years with the cost-of-living crisis, many families have reached breaking point and simply can’t afford the ever-increasing cost of Christmas.
If you would like to support Cram the Van by gifting money, we have a dedicated Just Giving site where all money raised will be used to buy extra toys, gift vouchers, selection boxes and toiletry gift packs. Please just click on the button and it will take you to our page.
We welcome brand new and unwrapped toys to be dropped off at one of our Toy Drop Off Points based across Skye and Lochalsh from the 1st of November until the 6th of December 2025. So if you can afford an extra toy this year we love you to drop it off at one of our locations>
Rankins, Uig
Portree Co-op (Woodpark Road)
Broadford Co-op
Kyle Co-op
Staffin Stores
Kyle Post Office
MacIntyre’s Toy Shop, Portree
RBS Portree
Cozy Corner Café, Balmacara
Lochcarron Food Centre
Radio Skye Studio, Portree
The toys and vouchers are distributed through Radio Skye working alongside partner local agencies and community organisations including:
Highland Council Social Work Department
Skye Health Visitors
Youth Action Team
Highland Council Benefits and Welfare Department
Ross and Skye Women’s Aid
Skye and Lochalsh Community Food Bank
Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau
Skye And Lochalsh Young Carers
Primary & Secondary schools across Skye & Lochalsh
The service is confidential through the agencies we work receiving only a list of ages and genders. Once toys are ready to be collected by our partner agencies, they are delivered a week before Christmas or earlier on request.
‘Christmas is a magical time but its also a really expensive time, especially now, many children may have to go without this Christmas so if you’ve ever considered giving a gift to a child who might not have otherwise received one, now is the time.
Morag Hannah, Bureau Manger of Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau
If you have children and are struggling to make ends meet then you are not alone. If you are not supported through the agencies listed above then the best and most confidential way to get access to the service is through contacting Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice who provide free, impartial and confidential advice and who will add your details to the Cram The Van list of recipients.
You contact them via phone: 01478 612032 or email: adviser@slcab.org.uk
Cram the Van supports children and young people from 0 – 19 years of age. Your personal details are not shared with Radio Skye only the ages and gender of your children. Toys will be delivered to you or collected from SLCAB and they will be not wrapped but wrapping paper can be given if needed.
You can also speak directly to Health Visitor or School Nurse or can contact any of the team on 01478613873.
If you are an agency working with children and young people (based in Skye & Lochalsh) and would like to know more about the campaign, please get in touch with Suzy at Radio Skye: suzy@radioskye.com or call 01478 611796
