Teddies For Loving Care
´TLC Scheme´

Aims and Objectives

The Scheme has a simple objective namely - For Freemasons to provide small cuddly Teddy Bears to Accident & Emergency Units in Hospitals within the Province.

The medical staff in the hospital is then able to give, at their discretion, a Teddy Bears to children under the age of seven years, who in their opinion are in distress and where the staff feel that a soft toy (Teddy) to cuddle will help alleviate their distress.

Similar schemes are now active in fourteen Provinces throughout England and Wales to the acclaim of both Brethren and the general public at large. Each Province has benefited from positive publicity and the sense of satisfaction and commitment of the Brethren from within those Provinces.

The results from other Provinces shows that this simple act can significantly assist the Staff undertake their urgent work. On leaving the hospital the children take the Teddies home with them and are encouraged to bring the bear to any further out patient visits.

Establishing the Scheme in North Wales

There are three main hospitals in North Wales namely - Wrexham Maelor, Glan Clwyd Rhyl and Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor. Due to its geological position within the Province Bangor seems the logical choice to initiate the scheme. The date for launch at Bangor has been set for 24th March 2009

Following consultation with the A & E staff at Bangor it has been established that over a period of twelve months, May 07 to May 08 there were in excess of 4200 children under the age of seven years admitted to the A & E unit, the two other hospitals submitted similar figures, Wrexham being slightly higher.

Provision of Teddy Bears and Metal Badges

There is now a TLC Teddy Bear design exclusively for this Masonic Initiative, the Teddies comply with all current health and safety regulations and are acceptable throughout the NHS.

The Metallic badge is also exclusively designed for this appeal at a cost of £2.50 per badge. Once the appeal has been launched we need to keep up the interest and impetus of Freemasons by regular updates on the Provincial Web Site, sale of Lapel Badges and being self promoting, many freemasons will know someone who has benefited.

Benefits for Freemasonry in the Province

This Scheme will raise the level of public awareness of the contribution made to the community by Freemasonry and will provide a greater understanding of the principles on which Freemasonry is founded

Each Teddy carries a tag that state, "Donated by Local Freemasons", which provides continuous evidence of the principles of Freemasonry in practice.

In conclusion the TLC Scheme will make a real and practical contribution to the community in general, and provides a real opportunity for us to put before the public one of our important principles in a discreet and meaningful way.

 • Approved by United Grand Lodge of England • 

Copyright 2010: The Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales
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