Connaught Freemasons Lodge presented another batch of Teddies for Loving Care (TLC Teddies) to Paulton Hospital Minor Injuries Unit on Tuesday, 20th December, that were gratefully received by Nurse Practitioner Julie Bodey, Receptionist Tina Cottle and Occupational Therapist Andy Minchin.

Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) provides unique cuddly bears to Accident & Emergency Departments for medical staff to give at their discretion to young children. 

A hospital visit can be a frightening experience for a young child, especially in an emergency situation. The bears are used to calm children down, reward them for being brave or to demonstrate procedures. 

Often the bears distract the children so nurses and doctors can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. Thus, the TLC teddy has become an invaluable tool for medical professionals and a real comfort for children. Every child that receives a teddy gets to take it home.

The work of TLC is funded through the generous donations of Freemasons, their families, and supporters of the programme. 

To date, more than one million teddies have been provided to hospitals throughout England and Wales, and Connaught Freemasons are proud to be part of this magnificent achievement.

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.

There are forty seven 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 funds towards teddies for minor injuries units, children’s wards and hospices; there are even teddies flying on air ambulances!

For more information about Connaught Freemasons, email: [email protected] or go to www.connaughtlodge.org