posted 25th August 2026
Cornwall Freemasons’ TLC Scheme Approaches 2,000 Teddies Delivered to Local NHS Emergency Units in 2026
The Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) scheme in Cornwall is approaching a major milestone, with nearly 2,000 comfort bears delivered to hospital emergency departments and Minor Injury Units (MIUs) across the Duchy so far this year.
Funded and distributed by Cornwall Freemasons, the initiative provides plush teddy bears to NHS healthcare staff. These bears serve a vital clinical purpose: calming distressed young patients, reducing anxiety during painful procedures, and creating a positive, reassuring environment during emergency visits.
Easing Anxiety on the Frontline: Quotes from NHS Staff
Healthcare professionals across Cornwall report that these small bears make a significant impact during pediatric care.
Anita, speaking on behalf of the team at Falmouth MIU, explains how staff use the teddies as interactive clinical tools:
"It is really helpful to show a child how they are going to be treated by using the teddy. You can bandage up the teddy or show the child how the treatment will be done by doing it on the teddy first. It really helps reduce anxiety in the child as they will know what is going to happen."
"When the child is encouraged to look after the teddy because it has an injury too, it shifts their focus—teddy becomes their patient. We have children leave here smiling, even though they have been here with an injury, because they have a teddy patient. If the child ever needs to come back, they are no longer fearful."
At West Cornwall Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre in Penzance, Emergency Nurse Practitioner Verity Harding shares similar experiences:
"We are very lucky in the Urgent Treatment Centre to have the TLC bears to give to children. I can currently hear a child in a cubicle singing to her new yellow bear, and my colleague has just given a pink bear to another girl who was happy to be wearing a similar colored outfit."
"On a recent shift, a pink bear went home with a 1-year-old who had a head wound. She loved her bear and loved that it was wearing a similar outfit. The bear went home with its wound fully cleaned by its new owner!"
Real Impact: A Parent’s Gratitude
The impact of the scheme extends beyond hospital walls to parents and carers navigating stressful situations.
Following a school sports day accident that resulted in a broken ankle, one local mother shared her experience at Falmouth MIU:
"Falmouth MIU were incredible. An amazing staff member named Scott sat with her, gave her a teddy, and bandaged its leg for her after he did her cast (see Picture below). 7 hours later, we were home... thank you for getting her to the car!"
2026 Delivery Progress: Approaching the 2,000 Milestone
Behind every teddy is a dedicated network of provincial volunteers ensuring hospital cupboards stay well-stocked. Organised locally by West Cornwall TLC Representative W.Bro Ant Wilkins (pictured below) alongside local lodge representatives, deliveries throughout 2026 have supplied units across the Duchy:
- Falmouth MIU
- West Cornwall Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre (Penzance)
- Helston MIU
- Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske)
With over 1900 bears delivered so far in 2026, recent top-ups supported by Provincial Grand Lodge officers ensure that emergency units remain fully prepared for the busy summer season ahead.
How You Can Support
The Teddies for Loving Care scheme is funded through the generosity of Cornwall Freemasons and public donations. To learn more about our charity work or find out how your local lodge supports community initiatives across Cornwall, visit our Charity & Community section or follow our updates on social media.
