250,000th Teddy Bear Given to Yorkshire Children in Hospital
October 29, 2025Milestone reached in ongoing initiative to comfort young patients
The 250,000th teddy bear from a Yorkshire-wide scheme aimed at supporting children in hospital was recently presented to a young patient at Leeds Children’s Hospital. The initiative, known as Teddies for Loving Care (TLC), is organised and managed by local Freemasons who volunteer their time to run the project.
Providing comfort during hospital stays
Hospitals can be intimidating environments for children, often causing anxiety and distress. The TLC scheme seeks to alleviate some of this by offering a teddy bear to each child admitted to participating hospitals. Every child who receives a teddy is able to take it home, providing a lasting source of comfort beyond their hospital stay.
Celebrating the milestone
To mark the distribution of the 250,000th teddy bear, members of the Freemasons’ Yorkshire Province visited Leeds Children’s Hospital. They brought along ‘Big Ted’ to celebrate the achievement with hospital staff.
Sandra Garbutt, Sister at Leeds Children’s Hospital, expressed gratitude for the scheme, stating: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the Freemasons for the TLC teddies. They make such a difference and can turn tears into smiles at Leeds Children’s Hospital. They help to cheer the children up and provide a…”
About the Teddies for Loving Care scheme
- Managed by local Freemasons who volunteer their time
- Provides teddy bears to children admitted to hospitals across Yorkshire
- Aims to reduce anxiety and improve the hospital experience for young patients
- Each child is allowed to keep their teddy bear after discharge
The scheme continues to operate across Yorkshire hospitals, supporting children and their families during challenging times.
Source: Leeds Hospitals Charity
