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Teddies get around!

Teddies get around!

Soroptimist International  of Great Britain and Ireland [SIGBI] celebrated 100 years of service in 2021 launching challenges  to members which included knitting 100 Teddy Bears for traumatised children. SI Sevenoaks  club responded with great fervour. Teddies were distributed to Kent and Sussex Police who used the bears as comforters when interviewing traumatised children. Women’s refuges, Refugee organisations and the Alzheimer’s society also welcomed the bears as a comforting aid. For two years they have been donated to the Charles Dickens Primary School, Southwark which serves two housing estates in a deprived area. Teachers had noted  that the last two intakes of children were very behind with their literacy skills due to  covid and lock down. Each child was given their own bear and encouraged to have conversations with them  also playing with them with other children improving literacy skills and self confidence.  Most recently medical students from Guy’s Hospital have visited the school as part of a learning module teaching the children to take care of their bodies using the bears as patients. A lot of sticky plaster seems to be used !  Teachers have commented on the huge difference the bears have made towards improving the children’s development.  The club was thrilled when the project was highlighted at a recent SIBGI  Education webinar attended by 124 members from clubs in the UK, the Caribbean and India.

Isobel Groves, Associate member