Discover more about Teddies for Loving Care
What we do
The Teddies for Loving Care initiative provides unique cuddly bears to Accident & Emergency departments for medical staff to give at their discretion to young children. The bears are used to calm children down, reward them for being brave or to demonstrate procedures. Often the bears distract children so nurses and doctors can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. The TLC teddy has become an invaluable tool for medical professionals and a real comfort for children.
Supported by Freemasons
The work of TLC is funded through the generous donations of Freemasons and their families. Many Freemasons also volunteer hundreds of hours each year to manage the scheme, deliver bears to hospitals, campaign to raise funds and increase awareness through events and talks.
TLC is locally managed by Freemasons who also volunteer their time to run the scheme. Since its inception in 2001, 3.5 million teddies have been distributed to hospitals throughout England and Wales.
Having these bears is so helpful, the children love them and they help massively in terms of building rapport with those who are afraid of the situation
Doctor Suzy Waring, Countess of Chester Hospital A&E Department