Teddy bear appeal has 'exceeded' expectations

An appeal for teddy bears to help comfort children entering the care system has "exceeded" expectations, organisers say.

Foster for Plymouth hopes to collect at least 550 brand-new teddy bears and soft toys by the end of November in the city-wide appeal, enough for every child and young person currently looked after by the city council to receive one.

Plymouth City Council said it had seen an "incredible response" and already received more than 300 bears, with "lots of organisations running their own collections on our behalf, so we're hopeful we'll surpass our minimum goal".

It said: "At the very least, we wanted to ensure every child and young person currently in care could receive a bear."

The council said the "incredible response" had been "fantastic and has definitely exceeded our expectations".

It also said any additional bears would be included in welcome bags given to children and young people when they first went into care if the goal was exceeded.

"Every bear will find a home and provide comfort to a child who needs it," it said.

As part of the appeal, the council has been featuring a "bear of the week".

On Monday, Freddy was shared on the council's Facebook because he arrived with a "very touching message".

The message said: "Hello, my name is Freddy. The bear on the card is my Uncle Paddington, but he lives a long way away in deepest, darkest Peru.

"I told him that I am lonely and would love someone to hug and cuddle me."

It added: "He said that I should come to you because you are looking for bears to be friends with children who are also looking for someone to love."

Only new soft toys could be donated, organisers said.

Contributions could be dropped off at city libraries and the Children's Services reception at Ballard House, or posted to Foster for Plymouth's Teddy Bear Appeal, they added.

The council said many children enter care unexpectedly and often with very few belongings of their own.

"While a teddy bear cannot change a child's circumstances, it can offer a sense of comfort, security and belonging when it's needed most," it said.

Councillor Jemima Laing, the council's cabinet member for children and young people, said she was "overwhelmed" by the response to the appeal and had around 30 bears in her office.

"I'm really struck by the city's generosity and kindness," she said.

"I think we live in quite fractious and difficult times and I think one of the things I have really taken from this is that most people are really pretty kind.

"I'm absolutely blown away by the way Plymothians have risen to this challenge."

Laing said the bear appeal was also helping draw attention to the need for more foster homes.

"We urgently need more foster carers from all walks of life," she said.

"We really hope that being part of this, if you've bought a teddy or a cuddly toy, or you want to get involved, maybe the next step might be a conversation about becoming a foster carer."

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