TLC Appeal

Teddies for Loving Care

Registered Charity No 1087765

Raising Funds for the supply of Cuddly

Toys to A&E units for

Children in Severe Distress

©2006 -2011

TLC Appeal

TLC Appeal

Registered Office

54 Medway Crescent

Leigh on Sea

Essex

 SS9 2UY

 

 

“They’ve been a great distraction for some children in helping to take away the trauma of coming into the department.”

 

“The kids think they’re great, give them names and in some cases bring them back if they have to return to hospital to get further treatment or a plaster cast removed. Staff really like them as well as it’s great to make a child smile!”

 

We are also delighted to be involved with the Teddies for Loving Care Appeal. The teddies are an ideal way to help distract and calm children who have been involved in an incident and who are in need of emergency care."

General Manager for Essex Air Ambulance   

“It really is a big help in comforting young children who come in either sick or injured and maybe upset and crying. At the walk-in centre we have used them to help placate five youngsters already and the effect has been amazing. In most cases they’ve gone from tears to smiles in minutes.”

A Nurse at a NHS Walk in Centre

I have been working as a Play Specialist in the Paediatric Emergency Department for the past 4 years. My main responsibility is to supervise and deliver play and distraction therapy for the children within the department. I settle the children into the hospital environment by reassuring and relaxing them. As I’ll explain in a moment, the donation of the TLC teddies has made this task much easier.

For many children their visit to the Emergency Department is their first experience in a hospital setting and it is therefore vital to make it a positive one. The children who we treat can be very frightened and are sometimes extremely distressed. They must be able to convey their fears and worries in order for me to help alleviate and overcome these feelings. Communicating effectively with a distressed child can be a problem however and it’s therefore important to use play therapy techniques to converse on their wavelength.

Making things fun for the child is a priority and the TLC teddies play a huge part in this. Medical procedures such as the application of steri-strips or pots for example, are often demonstrated on the teddy first to prepare the child for their forthcoming treatment. It reduces their anxiety and encourages co-operation.

The teddies are also used as a reward for their behaviour and bravery. They act as a positive symbol for the hospital and leave a lasting impression in the child’s mind. Possessing a TLC teddy is a reminder to them that visiting the hospital isn’t so bad.

It is hard for me to explain the effect these wonderful teddies have within our department because the only way we can measure their success is by the change in the child’s emotions. It is no exaggeration to say that a child’s mood and overall perception of their treatment can be completely changed for the better by using the teddies and speaking personally, it truly is a pleasure to watch.

It’s amazing. Something that seems so trivial to us “grown-ups” can have such an impact on a youngster and this wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Freemasons. I’d like to finish by thanking you on my behalf, and on behalf of the children who these teddies make such a difference to.

Thank you.

Laura Burton

Play Specialist

Hull Royal Infirmary

From Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

“As promised, some info about the bears.
The children who receive a bear are usually under 9 yrs of age, as this is the age group we have found appreciates them most. Children may have a broken bone requiring surgery, or be unwell and require admission, or have received a burn.”

“A few examples:
A 4 year old boy arrived, unwell and irritable through being unwell. Did not want to play or read books, simply wanted to sleep but couldn't find a comfortable position. Cuddling a teddy enabled him to relax and get comfortable enough to sleep. When he woke up he felt better. He was admitted to the children's ward for continued treatment and kept the bear as a reward for being brave through his treatment and to help him feel relaxed in the new environment.”

“A 3 year old girl who had broken her arm, the break required fixing under general anaesthetic. She was given a bear to cuddle at night and when she went to theatre prior to the anaesthetic. The bear was also given a plaster, enabling us to demonstrate what a plaster cast looked like.”