Community Groups Craft Sensory Bears for Children in Care

Two sewing groups provided assistance when a therapy team experienced a shortage of sensory bears, which are used to support the children under its care. The Family Plus Team of Cornwall Council reported a rise in the need for these bears, following the expansion of their application from children with special guardianship orders to include all children in care. These “think-feel-do” bears are designed to assist young individuals in exploring their experiences and identities, as well as in developing healthy strategies for managing their emotions. Collaborating on the project, The Bridge View Quilters and Brunnel Quilters, both based in Saltash, produced a total of 82 new bears. Alex Halsey, the manager of the Family Plus Team, reached out to his grandmother, who is a member of the Bridge View Quilters, to assist in recruiting individuals to sew the bears. Approximately 50 sewers dedicated over 160 hours to the creation of these soft toys. Mr. Halsey stated: “The bears have special patches on their heads (representing think), hearts (representing feel) and on their paw (representing do), helping children identify and express their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.” He further noted that the bears proved especially beneficial for young individuals who have undergone trauma and separation. Mr. Halsey also commented: “Every single bear has been made with such love and care, and they are so much more personal and unique than anything mass-produced.” He concluded: “I’ve seen first-hand how the bears can take a huge weight off a child’s shoulders so I know they will make a big difference.” For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.