Mission accomplished! SI Sevenoaks did it Target of 100 Trauma Bears achieved!
Since the launch of the UKPAC Centenary Trauma Bear challenge knitters in Sevenoaks have been permanently attached to their knitting needles producing Teddies to the extent that the local haberdasher’s shop has run out of stuffing! The shop owner asked the question “is everyone knitting Teddies in Sevenoaks? “ Fortunately supplies are still available online!
To date SI Sevenoaks has made 101 bears. Two members, Shirley Brigham has made 55, Linda Larter has made 6 and a friend of SI Sevenoaks, Maureen Clark has made 40.
The bears have been given to the West Kent Police Safeguarding Team who are already using them commenting how helpful they are as a de stressor for the children. Bears have been given to the Probation Service, Maidstone for use in Women’s Refuges
Word about the Trauma Bears originally went out through Police channels to the whole of Kent and clubs throughout the region responded by supplying their local police teams.
As SI Sevenoaks members have continued knitting bears who needed a home the Police were contacted again for possible outlets. DC Marie Cutter Shepway Child and Adult Protection Team [Folkestone police station] responded asking for 20 as the Teddies are needed there. Ann Holland, an associate member, living in Hastings donated her 10 bears to West Sussex Police safeguarding Team.
Excitingly I received an e mail from Mehdi Fallali who is the Detective Inspector for West Sussex Police Mash Hubs [Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs] covering Hastings, Brighton and Eastbourne. She liaises with three Local Authority Children’s Services Safeguarding Teams, Women’s Refuges and Response Cars. She applauds this fantastic work in the community and has asked to have a meeting about the project.
I would like to thank everyone in the region who has responded to this challenge wholeheartedly as we are making a difference in helping traumatised children by taking action and have raised awareness of our Programme Action work with other services and organisations. I end this article with two quotes:
A police response after using the Teddies: “the children love them and their faces light up when they know they can keep them.”
A knitter’s comments: “I really enjoy knitting the teddies. You feel you are doing something to help traumatised children. It has been a lovely and rewarding thing to do during a very difficult time for us all.
Isobel Groves, Programme Action officer, SI Sevenoaks
E mail contact details for DI Mehdi Fallali: mehdi.fallahi@sussex.pnn.police.uk