Representatives from Middlesex Freemasonry’s Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) Charity were delighted to attend the annual Play Festival at Northwick Park Hospital. The event brought together a number of children’s charities and organisations, including Starlight Healthcare, London NorthWest Healthcare, Little Journeys, and the Children’s Dental Care team.
This year’s festival was particularly special, marking 20 years of Middlesex TLC providing comfort to children in hospital with their much-loved 10” teddy bears. Since 2005, more than 35,000 TLC bears have been distributed across hospitals within the Province, including Northwick Park. The 35,000th bear was gratefully received on the day by Jalpa Gohil, Play Specialist in the hospital’s Emergency Department.
The festival itself was organised by Gail Manning, Northwick Park’s Registered Health Play Specialist, with support from the play team staff. Music was provided by Harrow Radio, and there was plenty of excitement thanks to appearances by the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service – all of which delighted the children and families in attendance.
During the day, Middlesex TLC Chairman, W. Bro. Campbell Caraher, explained to staff, parents, and members of the wider community how the scheme has been supported by Middlesex Freemasons for two decades. Funding is raised entirely through donations, including the popular Lodge and Chapter Patron scheme, which enables units to commit to five years of financial support. Importantly, every penny raised goes directly towards the purchase of teddy bears.
Speaking at the event, Play Specialist Jalpa Gohil shared her appreciation:
“The children had a wonderful time at our Play Fair, especially when visiting the ‘Teddy Bear Hospital’ and exploring the medical equipment alongside their new TLC teddies. The joy on their faces was unforgettable. We are so grateful to Middlesex Freemasons for providing these bears – they truly mean the world to us, and we congratulate TLC on their 20th Anniversary.”
The TLC bears are distributed at the discretion of nursing staff, with the simple but powerful aim of “turning tears into smiles.” Nurses often use the bears as a distraction tool, sometimes even bandaging them up to help children understand the treatment they are about to receive.
One nurse summed it up perfectly: once a child is given a bear, the effect is immediate. The child feels safer, calmer, and more protected – allowing hospital staff to carry out their vital work more easily and with far less distress for the patient.
To View The TLC Annual Report Click Here
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