TLC

What is the TLC Appeal?

• Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) raises funds to buy small teddy bears.
• Bears are provided free of charge to children arriving at Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments.
• The aim is simple: comfort distressed children and help staff deliver care more effectively.

Why do teddy bears help?

• Children arriving in A&E may be distressed, frightened, or in pain.
• A teddy provides a positive focus, helping children settle during initial assessment.
• This can support more effective examinations, quicker identification of the problem, and earlier treatment.

How did TLC start?

• Founded after an Essex Freemason’s wife suffered a severe allergic reaction and was resuscitated by the local A&E team.
• In gratitude, the Freemason and fellow members looked for a meaningful way to thank hospital staff.
• The idea of Teddies for Loving Care was born—along with a new charity.

Who is involved and where does TLC operate?

• Started with one Freemasons’ lodge, then expanded across Essex and later the UK (supported by Ian Simpson (Essex), Chairman of the Appeal).
• Now supports most children’s A&E departments across England and Wales, plus Ireland, Gibraltar, Cyprus, and Scotland.
• There are 47 regional TLC programmes.
• Milestones: 1,000,000th bear donated in 2012; 4,000,000+ bears donated as of 2026 (around one bear every 2.5 minutes).

North & East Yorkshire: local programme

• In 2007, the Freemasons Grand Charity of Yorkshire North and East Ridings (now Freemasons Charity North and East Ridings, FCYNER) joined the TLC appeal under Provincial Grand Master Richard J Anderson.
• Over 19 years, TLC has donated 41,000+ bears to children’s A&E departments in: Middlesbrough, York, Scarborough, Hull, Northallerton, Whitby, Redcar, and Bridlington.
• As of 16 March 2026: 41,472 bears donated in the region.
• Additionally: 192 larger teddies donated to local charities and used for fundraising.

What do hospitals, parents, and children say?

• Hospitals are keenly involved; nursing staff report that bears help calm distressed children.
• Bears can help children show where it hurts and understand what will happen next.
• Children are delighted to receive a bear and can take it home.
• Parents value the comfort it brings.

Where do the bears come from?

• Bears are bought in bulk from a central supplier (PSA).
• Bulk purchasing helps keep the unit cost at a reasonable level.

Costs and how funds are used

• Yorkshire North and East Ridings: providing teddies to four major hospitals and four satellite A&E departments costs approximately £4,000 per year.
• 100% of funds raised are used to purchase bears.
• Administration (including storage and distribution) is provided free of charge by local Freemasons and fundraising committees.

How can you donate?

• Donate through a Freemasons’ lodge (collective lodge donation), or
• Donate as an individual member, or as a personal donation from a member of the public.

Thank you for your support—every teddy makes a difference.

We would love to hear about your experiences with TLC bears and any fundraising activities you have held or supported.

Best wishes from everyone at the TLC Appeal!

Contact and donation details:

For more information about donating to TLC, or about obtaining pin badges and large teddies for fundraising, please contact the Provincial TLC Lead, W. Bro Andrew Walker, on 07801 946864 or via email: tlc@fcyner.org.uk.

Donations can be made via bank transfer (Lloyds Bank—Account: FCYNER; A/C 67116668; S/C 30-92-93). Please use the reference “For TLC” and include your lodge number. Alternatively, you can donate by cheque made payable to FCYNER, marked on the reverse “For TLC”, and sent to the Secretary to the Trustees at: FCYNER c/o Mr. C. Hunton, 85 Knole Road, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, TS23 3BQ