Teddies for Loving Care

Launched in 2016, the ‘Teddies for Loving Care’ (TLC) scheme aims to reduce the distress and fear experienced by children admitted to hospital, by providing teddy bears to A&E units.

The teddies are used in various ways:

  • Simply for the child to cuddle
  • To make it easier for staff to befriend a worried child
  • As a reward to the child for ‘being brave’
  • To help staff demonstrate medical procedures

Donations to the scheme are made by individual lodges, and the teddies purchased are passed direct to hospitals. Each teddy comes with a tag that reads ‘Donated by local Freemasons’, so that parents of children can appreciate that the teddies are a charitable gift to the hospital.

TLC Bears to Bring Comfort to University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff

February 23, 2024

Teddies for Loving Care (TLC Bears) are delighted to share the news that the bears are being distributed to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

W.Bro. Peter Williams, Chairman, and W.Bro. David Weston, TLC Ambassador for Cardiff, recently delivered a supply of bears to UHW, Cardiff. During their visit, hospital staff expressed their gratitude for the relief that the TLC Bears will bring to the children. They extended their heartfelt thanks to the Brethren of The Province of South Wales for their generous support in purchasing and donating to TLC South Wales Charity. The staff assured them that all the bears will soon find loving new homes, given the high volume of children passing through the various departments this time of year.

TLC Teddy Bears serve not only as a comforting companion but also as tools for diversion techniques used by doctors and nurses to efficiently carry out their tasks. Nurses often mimic a child’s injuries on the teddy to distract and engage them during procedures.

Freemasons play major role as comforting teddies for children in hospital reaches three million mark

October 1, 2021

The three millionth teddy to be given to poorly children across England and Wales has been presented, with South Wales Freemasons playing a big part.

The special bear was presented to Jackie James, Play Specialist at Peterborough City Hospital, in the hospital’s Amazon Children’s Garden, by Dr David Staples a hospital Consultant Physician and CEO of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Freemasons’ group behind the Teddies for Loving Care initiative.

The South Wales Freemasons have given over 11,000 teddies to children at hospitals across south Wales since the scheme began in 2001. The bears are given to children in hospital to comfort them or reward them for their bravery.

Children are often first met by a bear when they arrive at a hospital Emergency Department to provide comfort and reassurance, in what can be a scary and unknown environment. The bears are used to demonstrate procedures, with doctors and nurses often showing children the procedures on the bear, before performing on children.

Speaking as she received the three millionth bear, Jackie James said: “The Teddies for Loving Care bears are very special to us in the Emergency Department and have a wonderful, positive impact on children who are receiving care. When a child first arrives at hospital not only are they feeling unwell but they may also be feeling scared and anxious. The little TLC teddies provide some comfort and really help make them feel at ease.

Dr David Staples, CEO of the United Grand Lodge of England, said: “I’m delighted to be able to present the three millionth ‘‘Teddy for Loving Care’. As a doctor, who regularly works with children in hospitals, I know how important these bears can be; both for the children who receive them and the staff who give them.

Colin Grey, Chairman South Wales TLC, said: “It’s wonderful that since 2017 the TLC scheme in South Wales has provided over 11,000 teddies to children who’ve had to attend a hospital in the region. This has only been made possible by the generosity of the Freemasons of South Wales.”

 

– Ends –

 

The Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) 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.

The work of TLC is funded through the generous donations of Freemasons, their families and supporters of the programme. 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 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 flying on air ambulances!

 

Teddies for Loving Care – Charity golf day

May 7, 2021

Fairwood Park Golf Club, Swansea

Friday 25 June 2021

Join us for the annual fun-filled TLC charity golf day, which is open to all golfers; Masons and non-Masons alike.

  • Teams of 4 with a four ball better-ball stableford format
  • Cost per team of £120 (deposit £40 required at time of booking), which includes:
    • Green fees
    • Bacon roll and coffee on arrival
    • On-course refreshments
    • 2-course dinner
  • Tee times from 10 am to 2 pm

The day event also includes and raffle and prizes for:

  • Longest drive
  • Nearest the pin on all Par threes
  • Team and individual prizes
  • Top three scores

How to book

Contact:

All proceeds will go to the South Wales Freemasons TLC Appeal (charity no. 1179822), which provides teddy bears to hospital departments throughout the South Wales Province.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available at £30 a hole (please enquire for further details)

 

TLC Charity Golf Day, Friday 26th July 2019

May 6, 2019

Teams of 4 Players using the Four ball better ball stableford format £130 per team which includes: Bacon Roll and Coffee on arrival, Green Fees, On-course Refreshments and 2 Course Dinner to finish.

Raffle, prizes for longest drive, Nearest Pin all Par threes, yellow ball Competion, Team and individual prizes, top three scores count.

£130 per Team open to all Golfers, non-masons Welcome.
Deposit of £40 per team required on booking.

Tee times from 10am to 2pm

Contact W Bro Jeff Abbott to reserve your tee off time at jeff.abbott@nullbtopenworld.com

Hole Sponsorship £25.00

Contact W Bro Colin Grey on 07970614073 or chairman.southwalestlc@nullgmail.com or W Bro Peter Williams on 07860523511 for further details.

All proceeds to South Wales Freemasons TLC Appeal to enable us to provide Teddie Bears to Hospital departments throughout the South Wales Province.

There will be a visit from Mason our Mascot on the Day.

Wales Air Ambulance and Neath Port Talbot MIU take delivery of TLC Bears

July 27, 2018

On Thursday 26th July TLC Chairman W.Bro. Colin Grey accompanied by W.Bro. Peter Williams delivered the first TLC bears to the Wales Children’s Air Ambulance, after which W.Bro. Colin Grey then delivered 72 TLC Bears to Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Minor Injury Unit.

This was only made possible by the Masonic Province of South Wales members and lodges generosity in supporting this charity.

Over 3,000 children & their families helped by Teddy Bear Picnic

July 28, 2017

South Wales Freemasons recently held a Teddy Bear Picnic at St Lythans, near Wenvoe, to celebrate 300 years of Freemasonry and to raise funds for the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) Appeal.

The Teddies for Loving Care scheme has provided over 2 million teddies to children in A&E departments in hospitals across England & Wales. Supplied by Freemasons, the teddies are used to comfort children visiting hospitals and are used as a distraction or helpful show-and-tell.

Over 3,000 distressed children and their families will be helped by the fantastic sum raised at the picnic event. The £4,000 will provide TLC Teddies to A&E Hospitals in South Wales, including Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital. South Wales Freemasons aim to donate over 20,000 Teddies per year and the Teddy Bear Picnic is a major contribution.

The planning for the event took several months, with a hard working committee driving things to put together a wonderful afternoon of entertainment.

Glorious weather enabled the team of helpers to set up a Bouncy Castle, a straw maze, rubber duck floating competitions and various other stalls and amusements in readiness for the children, their teddies, and of course Mums & Dads, & Grandparents.

As guests arrived, the heat of the day started to build but thankfully, Mr and Mrs Whippy came to the rescue.  Earlier in the day, Mr and Mrs Whippy had hidden images of ice cream characters around the picnic site for children to find and trade for a free ice cream, get set go…. The children were off, laughing and screaming with joy, the heat of the day temporarily forgotten.

As the day wore on, the heat increased, ice cream was eaten in ‘bucket loads’, burgers were flipped, sausages rolled, onions fried and buns filled with delicious relish, all hungrily consumed by parents and children, all washed down with an ice-cold water or soft drink.  In-between, the ice cream and hot dogs, parents and children tried their hand on the various attractions around the picnic site including guess the name of the teddy, the number of gummie bears in a jar and the weight of the TLC cake.

The Provincial Grand Master Gareth Jones OBE and his wife, children and grandchildren attended to act as judges of competitions and of course ice-creams!

The day a success, it was time for the raffle and to declare the winners of the guessing games, best dressed teddy and teddies questionnaire.  With kind & generous donations to the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, every child was awarded a runner up prize and left with smiles on their faces.

A big thank you to everyone involved in organising this splendid event, in particular: Michelle Gonthier,  Wendy Gaughan, Graham Gonthier, Ian Gaughan, Robert Salter, Peter Constantine and Event Chairman, Jason Agostini-Green.

TLC Teddy Bear Picnic

May 30, 2017

Brethren, parents, grandparents, friends, families, children…

Fantastic Teddy Bear Picnic on 18 June 2017 from noon to 5pm to support the South Wales TLC Teddies for Loving Care Appeal. Great fun for all the family. A bouncy castle, bean bag teddy toss, hook a duck and lots more, & our Provincial Grand Master will judge the best dressed teddy competition.

Come along to South Winds on St Lythans Road CF5 6BQ. Bring your teddy and a picnic. Great value for money at only £2 entry per child and adult. Bring your children, grandchildren, friends, families… contact Jason for details and tickets 07800 836821

Emerald 5907 & Beehive 6265 Annual Skittles Challenge Trophy

March 28, 2017

It was a tense evening at the Ty Newydd Pub in Barry, as the “Emerald 5907 & Beehive 6265 Annual Skittles Challenge trophy” was up for grabs once again! 38 Brethren, wives and partners assembled under their respective banners as the competition commenced. Would Emerald make it four on the trot or would Beehive finally spoil the party? After Round 1, Beehive had taken the lead by just 1 point (Emerald 64 – Beehive 65)…. the pressure was building for Emerald in the last and final round and after an hour and thirty minutes the trophy was retained by Emerald Lodge as they won by a small margin of just 6 points (Emerald 143 – Beehive 137). Reluctantly, but with a big smile on his face, the Worshipful Master of Beehive 6265, W.Bro. Len Edwards, re-presented the Trophy for the 4th consecutive time to W.Bro. Paul Camilleri, Master of Emerald 5907. An excellent evening was had by all concerned and £90 was raised for the South Wales Freemason’s TLC Appeal.

– W.Bro. Robert Payne, ProvGStwd

Emerald 5907 & Beehive 6265 Annual Skittles Challenge Trophy