Page 11 - Essex Mason (Issue 91)

Provincial

Teddies for Loving Care

celebrates 20 years

By David Badger
Provincial Communications Team
n 12th March 2001 an extraordinary, and unique,
Oscheme was launched by Essex Freemasons: it
was a simple idea – to raise funds to provide Essex
A&E departments with Teddies for the medical staff
to give to children brought into their care to help
relieve their distress.
Back in October 1999, Freemason Ian Simpson took his wife, Angela, to Southend Hospital’s A&E unit after an allergic
reaction caused her windpipe to swell and block. After fi nding themselves so anxious and frightened, the couple decided
to do something to say thank you to the A&E staff and, with the help of Ian’s lodge, the Teddies For Loving Care appeal
was born.

And, ten years after what started so successfully as a purely local scheme and which was later extended to all the A&E
units in Essex, Neil Beverley, a founder of TLC, marked the gift of the one-millionth teddy bear. However, where that
happened, nobody is entirely sure, because TLC had been so successful that it had been taken up not only by masonic
provinces all over England, but had gone global.

Now, two decades after its launch, TLC is still going strong. Three million teddies have been cuddled by children in
hospitals in every country under the Grand Lodge of England’s banners.Medical practitioners everywhere agree on the
benefi ts the teddies bring.

“It means so much to the nurses,’ one says. ‘It makes our lives easier and the children feel safer, and it’s not so
traumatic for them. The teddy system works so well because it’s such a simple idea. It’s something the children love
and makes them feel special. The parents see that you really value their child, they’re not just another number and
they’re being seen as an individual.”

And the teddy bears aren’t just employed to comfort the child either; nurses will quite often use them as a diversion
technique as they work, like using the teddy to mimic the injuries the child has, perhaps putting a sticky plaster on the
teddy’s arm if the child has hurt theirs.

And now the scheme has taken another step forward.
Current Chairman Robert Whittingham explained: “Last
year, the fund presented a grant of £10,000 to the Child
Death Review Team.
“The team is based in Harlow, Essex and is made up of
former nurses and other medical practitioners. They
respond to all child deaths reported in Essex, ranging
from cot death to teenage suicide, support the families
at the time of death and after, and make introductions
to other support agencies. They also attend Coroners’
inquests to give evidence and further support the
families, and liaise with other agencies such as the Celebrating TLC’s two decades. Two young children attending Princess
Police in any formal investigations.” Alexandra Hospital Children’s A&E Department. Sister Ruth Goddard (TLC
Contact) (left) Sister Sam Reeves and (middle) a parent of one if the children.

Robert added: “The donation is being made to enable them to purchase books and
Robert added: “The donation is being made to enable them to purchase books and
other specialist materials given to bereaved parents and siblings at an awful time.
The literature enables parents to explain to surviving siblings what has happened
and help them to understand.”
Today there are 47 regional TLC programmes across England and Wales that
provide teddies for their local A&E departments. Once a hospital joins the scheme
they can replenish teddies on request through their local TLC representative. Some
TLC programmes also donate a portion of their TLC funds towards teddies for
minor injuries units, children’s wards and hospices; there are even teddies fl ying on
air ambulances!

Recent months have seen the introduction of a new model of teddy and Essex,
as the founder of the scheme, is proud to have been the fi rst Province to receive
supplies for its hospitals, medical units and air ambulances.
Pictured left: is Laura Ryan, the play team lead at Basildon Hospital, holding some
of the new teddies. Laura is responsible for ensuring the teddies are given out to
the children.
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