Success of the Venture
The Teddy Bear scheme is extremely popular.
Staff Nurse Barney Pitt of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital said: "The scheme is very successful here. We give nearly every child a teddy and it calms them down when they arrive and if we have to do some evasive procedures, it keeps them occupied. We want to thank the Masons for their generosity." Click here to read more - Link
Origins of the TLC Appeal
The Origins of the Appeal and the Compulsive Idea
The Appeal originated after an allergic reaction suddenly caused the swelling and blocking of the windpipe of the wife of an Essex Freemason.
Her life was saved by the rapid action of the medical staff at an A & E unit, who were able to resuscitate and stabilise her.
They are both eternally grateful for the swift and caring attention that she received, but found the experience the most frightening of their lives and speculated on the distress that children must face when visiting A & E units.
He asked members of his Lodge and other Local Freemasons to help to do something useful as a thank you to the A & E unit and its staff.
From that point the compulsive idea of "Teddies for Loving Care" was born. Click here to read more - Link
What is the TLC Appeal?
The T.L.C. Appeal has a simple objective.
The simple objective is for Freemasons to provide teddy bears and soft toys to Accident and Emergency units, for the medical staff, to give, at their discretion, to children admitted who are in severe distress and where the staff feel that a teddy or soft toy to cuddle will help alleviate the stress and assist them in their work. Click here to read more - Link
Community Benefits
Ways in which the appeal benefits the community
The appeal benefits the community through the A & E departments that serve them. The use of the teddies within A & E units has been proved to have beneficial effects for the children admitted to A & E units
They help by relieving the distress that they face and alleviating the fear of the being treated by complete strangers, the teddies are used in various ways:
As something for the staff to befriend the child with, for the child to cuddle, as a reward for being brave, the staff can demonstrate what they are going to do.
These teddies allow staff to befriend the children and relieve their distress, the medical staff are able to administer medical treatment more easily and quickly.
A quote from one A & E Sister "I cannot remember how we used to cope with these children before the Teddies. I hope that you can continue to supply them for a long time". Click here to read more - Link
Teddies
for Loving Care
(Registered Charity No. 1087765)
TLC - Ysbyty Gwynedd
Ysbyty Gwynedd Tuesday 24th March 2009.
The R.W. Provincial Grand Master Bro. Ieuan Redvers Jones accompanied by W. Bro. Peter Sorahan, P.A.G.D.C., Provincial Grand Secretary, W. Bro. Norman Venner, P.A.G.D.C., Provincial Grand Charity Steward, W. Bro. David J. Gibbison, P.A.G.D.C., TLC Teddy Chairman (North Wales), W. Bro. David K. Evans, Prov.Dep.G.Dir.Cerms., TLC Teddy Treasurer and W. Bro. Bryan George, P.Pr.G.Swd.B., TLC Fundraising Secretary attended the A & E Dept. Ysbyty Gwynedd on what was an extremely busy afternoon at A & E to launch the TLC Teddy Appeal for the Province of North Wales.
We were met by Tristam Lewis (Hospital Administrator) and Lynne Roberts (Senior Nurse A & E) who are pictured with
RW Bro. Ieuan Redvers Jones launching the Appeal. Also present was our patient for the afternoon Leah Rowlands of Bodorgan,
whose mother Gwenno is nurse at A & E.
Leah is pictured with the Teddies which will be given to children under 7 years at the discretion of the Nursing Staff who are admitted in an emergency. As an appreciation of her help and allowing the Province to use her pictures for publicity she was presented with one of the large teddies by RW Bro Ieuan Redvers Jones.
In a conversation with RW Bro. Ieuan Redvers Jones during the afternoon Lynne Roberts mentioned that on the previous Saturday a little boy had been admitted to A&E who had been badly burned by putting his hands on a kitchen hob. The boy was severely distressed and Lynne had given the little boy one of the Teddies to comfort him. She commented that "it certainly did the trick, I hope that you didn´t mind me giving him the Teddy before the launch". We were delighted to hear that the Teddies were already being put to good use.
Pictured above with the Teddies are R.W. Bro. Ieuan Redvers Jones, Gwenno Rowlands, Leah Rowlands, A & E Nurse Debbie Rooney and W. Bro. David J. Gibbison, TLC, Chairmen.
The teddy display at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
Week commencing 13th APRIL 2009 negotiations start at Wrexham Maelor Hospital with the launch following soon afterwards. Once Wrexham Maelor is underway we move to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bolelwyddan and finally the Wales Air Ambulance.
The TLC Appeal has been so well received by the Brethren of the Province and we are now part of the network of Provinces supporting the TLC Appeal, for further information regarding the TLC Appeal please log on to www.tlcappeal.org
To date 600,000 teddies have been given out to children at A&E Hospitals throughout the United Kingdom. Five Teddy badges are available for a set at £2.50p each or why not buy a Gold Teddy at £12.50p., badges are available from Lodge Charity Stewards.
The Working Tools of the TLC Fund Raising Secretary
If you require any further information or would like anyone from the TLC Team to come to your Lodge and give a presentation do not hesitate to contact:
W. Bro. David J. Gibbison on 01492 592559, e-mail dj.gibby@tiscali.co.uk
or
W. Bro. Bryan George 01492 870195, e-mail bryangeorge2005@yahoo.co.uk.
Thank you all for your support,
Bryan George,
Fund Raising Secretary.
Cost of administration?
How much of the appeal money goes on admin?
Absolutely nothing, time and facilities are donated.
We do spend less than 1% on fund-raising and PR, but every penny of the remainder is used to purchase the teddies or urgently needed paediatric equipment for A & E units. Click here to read more - Link
Is this a Public appeal?
Charitable donations by others
As a charity, we do not turn down donations from others who see the benefits of the idea, but over 99% of the money needed is donated by Freemasons. Click here to read more - Link
Origins of the TLC Appeal
The Origins of the Appeal and the Compulsive Idea
The Appeal originated after an allergic reaction suddenly caused the swelling and blocking of the windpipe of the wife of an Essex Freemason.
Her life was saved by the rapid action of the medical staff at an A & E unit, who were able to resuscitate and stabilise her.
They are both eternally grateful for the swift and caring attention that she received, but found the experience the most frightening of their lives and speculated on the distress that children must face when visiting A & E units.
He asked members of his Lodge and other Local Freemasons to help to do something useful as a thank you to the A & E unit and its staff.
From that point the compulsive idea of "Teddies for Loving Care" was born. Click here to read more - Link
What is the TLC Appeal?
The T.L.C. Appeal has a simple objective.
The simple objective is for Freemasons to provide teddy bears and soft toys to Accident and Emergency units, for the medical staff, to give, at their discretion, to children admitted who are in severe distress and where the staff feel that a teddy or soft toy to cuddle will help alleviate the stress and assist them in their work. Click here to read more - Link
