🧸 Teddies for Loving Care – Making a Difference When It Matters Most

Area 5 TLC Officer presents Mark Porter from Leighton Hospital with a consignment of Teddies

Few things are more distressing for a child than an unexpected visit to A&E. Unfamiliar surroundings, medical equipment, and urgent treatment can quickly turn fear into trauma. Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) exists to help ease that fear, one teddy bear at a time.

Founded in 2001 and funded entirely by Freemasons, the TLC appeal provides soft toy bears to children attending Accident & Emergency departments across England and Wales. These bears are given out by medical staff to comfort young patients, distract them during treatment, or reward them for bravery. Since its inception, the appeal has distributed over four million teddy bears, each one offering reassurance at a difficult moment.

Freemasonry in Action at a Local Level

The success of Teddies for Loving Care lies in its local delivery. While nationally supported, the scheme is managed regionally by dedicated volunteers who ensure hospitals are never without supplies.

A fine example of this commitment can be seen in Area 5, where Norman Jinks serves as TLC Officer alongside his role as Lodge Mentor and Membership Officer at The University Lodge of Chester. Norman makes regular visits to both Leighton Hospital and Halton Hospital, ensuring that frontline staff always have a stock of teddies available when they are most needed.

These visits are not ceremonial; they are practical, purposeful, and deeply appreciated by NHS staff who see first-hand the calming effect a simple teddy bear can have on a frightened child.

Why the TLC Appeal Matters

The purpose of the Freemasons’ TLC appeal is simple but powerful:

🧸 To reduce anxiety and distress for children in hospital

🧸 To support medical staff with a proven emotional tool

🧸 To demonstrate Freemasonry’s commitment to community care

Doctors and nurses regularly report that TLC bears help children cooperate with examinations and procedures, making treatment smoother and less traumatic.

Supporting the Freemasons TLC Appeal

Every teddy bear distributed through the TLC appeal is funded by the generosity of Freemasons and their lodges. No public funds are used, and every donation goes directly towards purchasing and delivering bears to local hospitals.

Through quiet dedication and consistent service, initiatives like Teddies for Loving Care show Freemasonry at its very best—practical charity, delivered locally, changing lives in small but meaningful ways.