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Loan a Play Pod

Our Play Pods are filled with specialist sensory toys, designed to help families with disabled children enjoy meaningful play at home. Each Play Pod contains a carefully selected range of sensory play resources, including tactile toys, light-up items and auditory materials.

You can borrow a Play Pod for up to 8 weeks.

Our Play Pods support sensory play at home. Through play, children can build relationships, develop communication and motor skills, explore new ways of learning and have fun.

What’s included in a Play Pod?

Each Play Pod contains a selection of sensory toys to help your child play, learn and communicate. The toys have been selected by our Play team and specialist toy developers to support communication, learning and development and shared play at home. Each Pod also comes with a play guide to help parents and carers use the toys, follow simple play ideas and play alongside their child. All toys have been tested for safety.

We offer the following specialist sensory Play Pods:

Early Explorers – suitable for children aged 1 year and over
Starlight Projector, 3D puzzle, contract tumbler, textured mini balls. This comes with an Early Explorers play guide
Sensory Adventure – suitable for children aged 3 years and over
Spectrum tumbler, textures matt, vibrating ball, sound bank, aquari-round (switch adapted). This comes with a Sensory Adventure play guide.

You can request a Play Pod for 8 weeks. We try to make things as easy as possible for families, and offer flexible delivery and collection options.

Can I apply to loan a Play Pod?

To be eligible for a Play Pod, your child must:

  • Be aged between one and 18 years old
  • Live in the UK
  • Have a disability or health condition
  • Not have received more than two Play Pods within the past 12 months
  • Have returned any previous Play Pods before applying again

These rules keep things fair and enable us to help us help as many children as possible.

Applying for a Play Pod

Choose the Play Pod that is most suitable for your child’s age and play needs, then complete one of our application forms.

APPLY FOR EARLY EXPLORERS PLAY POD (opens in new tab) APPLY FOR SENSORY ADVENTURE PLAY POD (opens in new tab)

What happens after I apply?

Once we receive your application, it will be reviewed by our team to check your child meets the eligibility criteria and that the Play Pod is suitable for their age and needs.

When your Play Pod arrives, you can enjoy the specialist toys at home with your child throughout the loan period.

Each Play Pod includes a handy play guide with simple ideas to help you use the toys to support your child’s communication, learning and development, motor skills and shared play.

EARLY EXPOLORERS PLAY GUIDE – DOWNLOAD HERE SENSORY ADVENTURE PLAY GUIDE – DOWNLOAD HERE

As your loan period comes to an end, our team will be in touch to arrange a convenient collection.

Once we’ve received and checked your Play Pod, you may be eligible for a play grant voucher to buy a toy for your child, so the fun can continue at home. If you are eligible this voucher will be emailed to you.

Families are eligible for one toy grant per year.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLAY GRANTS (opens in new tab)

FAQs

We’ve tried to make the application process as simple as possible. You can find answers to common questions below:

We lend sensory toys to children and young people to use at home.

Each loan includes a range of toys designed to support different sensory needs.

There is a postcard with a QR code inside the box with helpful information about the toys and ideas for different ways to play with them.

Families can borrow the toys for up to 8 weeks.

To be eligible for a Play Pod, your child child must:

  • Be aged between one and 18 years old
  • Live in the UK
  • Have a disability or health condition
  • Not have received more than two Play Pods within the past 12 months
  • Have returned any previous Play Pods before applying again

To apply:

  • Complete our online application form 
  • Read and sign our terms of loan
  • Choose a delivery day that works for you

After that, we’ll take care of the rest, making the process as easy and enjoyable as possible for your child!

Families can apply for up to two loans per year.

The Play Pod is usually loaned for eight weeks. If you need it for longer, contact us to discuss an extension or alternative arrangement.

Each Play Pod is carefully cleaned and checked to MHRA clinical standards before we send it out.

All items are inspected for damage, and anything worn or unsafe is replaced. Hard and soft items are thoroughly cleaned using steam, specialist wipes, and (where needed) machine washing. Everything is done according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A final UV clean is also used to help remove any remaining germs.

This process ensures every Play Pod is safe, hygienic, and ready for use at home.

You should contact us as soon as possible so they can arrange a collection time with you.

No, the equipment must only be used by the child or young person it was intended for. This is important for safety, hygiene, and ensuring the toys are used appropriately.

Families are responsible for looking after the Play Pod during the loan period and keeping them clean and in good condition.

Families are responsible for checking that the toys are suitable for their child and anyone else who may be involved in play. This includes considering factors such as flashing lights, loud sounds, and any other sensory features.

If the Play Pod or its contents become unsuitable due to changes in needs or circumstances, you should let Newlife know as soon as possible.

Families must:

  • Take reasonable care of the equipment and all contents of the Play Pod.
  • Ensure the toys are suitable for their child and anyone else who may be involved in play (for example, considering flashing lights, sounds, or sensory effects).
  • Use the equipment only as intended and for the child or young person it was provided for.
  • Let Newlife know as soon as possible if anything becomes unsuitable, unsafe, or damaged.

We understand that toys can sometimes get damaged through normal use. However, we ask that families inform Newlife as soon as possible if any items are lost, stolen, or damaged.

If items are not returned, this may affect your ability to access future loans or grants.

If we don’t receive a response from you, the Play Pod may be offered to another family on the waiting list.

We use trusted courier services, including DPD and EDS, to deliver our Play Pods, offering both home delivery and drop-off point options where available.

Families can choose a delivery date that suits them. For returns, we encourage using drop-off points, which offer flexibility so families can return items on a date and time that works best for them.

Yes. Newlife may contact families for feedback about their experience, including the impact of the Play Pod. This may include asking for photos, testimonials, or short reports.

Any feedback shared may be used to help promote the service or support reporting on its impact.

Need more information?

Visit our online Resources and Signposting Hub – it contains helpful articles, practical tips and links to other services and support for families of disabled children, making it easy to find the right information at any time.

Resources and signposting hub