News

Staff at Children’s Hospice South West’s Charlton Farm in North Somerset were delighted to receive 72 teddies from charity, Teddies for Loving Care (TLC). 

TLC, operated by and funded with donations from Freemasons, donates teddies to A&E departments and hospices in their specific regions.

Richard Ellis and Roger Penny, the TLC coordinator for Somerset and both members of Somerset Freemasons, were keen to ensure that Charlton Farm in Wraxall – Somerset’s only dedicated hospice facility for children - received the teddies.

Charlton Farm offers respite, palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care to families in the county. Whilst routine respite stays have ceased during the pandemic, the hospice has remained open to families with children diagnosed with life-limiting conditions, for resilience stays, symptom control and end-of-life. Its care model has adapted to also support families in their own homes, as well as virtually.

Heidi Roberts, Area Fundraiser at CHSW, said: “The teddies are such a lovely idea and our care team are able incorporate them into the work they do with poorly children and their siblings. All children feel comforted by teddies and our multidisciplinary team can use them as a tool or a companion for an affected child or as part of their sessions with well brothers and sisters; enabling them to express their feelings about their sibling’s illness.”

The teddies can also be used in conjunction with the bereavement support CHSW offers to families for many years after the death of a brother or sister.

“We are so thrilled to have these soft teddies with a heart as a nose, the children in our care will be so appreciative of these special little friends. A big thank you to the Somerset Masons for their kind donation,” added Heidi.