Essex Freemasons expand Teddies For Loving Care to Paediatric wards
After 25 years comforting children in A&E, TLC Teddy scheme now available on paediatric wards across seven Essex hospitals
Founded in 2001, for 25 years, small teddy bears provided through the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) charity have helped turn moments of fear into reassurance for young patients. Now the initiative has widened its reach so that children admitted to hospital wards — as well as those arriving in A&E — can receive the same comfort.
Teddies for Loving Care Essex (TLC Essex) marked the milestone on 12 March 2026 by launching TLC Teddies into nine paediatric wards across seven NHS hospitals in Essex for the first time.
For a generation of families, the colourful bears have been a familiar sight in A&E. Doctors and nurses use them to calm distressed children, distract them during treatment and reward bravery. Often handed over during frightening or painful moments, the teddy quickly becomes more than a toy — a reassuring companion during an experience a child may never forget.
The idea began with Neil Beverley* of Thames Mouth Lodge No. 6994 who launched the TLC initiative by donating teddy bears to children attending hospital A&E departments across Essex.
Reflecting on the achievement, Neil Beverley said:
“What began as a simple idea has now brought smiles to over four million children at a time when it mattered. Today is a very proud day, marking the 25th anniversary of the launch of the TLC Teddy Appeal.”
What began as a simple act of kindness quickly proved its value. Medical staff found the bears could ease anxiety almost instantly, helping children relax during their treatment. The initiative soon spread, embraced by Freemasons across England and Wales, expanding internationally.
Today TLC schemes operate in countries including Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar and Spain. In October 2025, the four-millionth TLC Teddy was presented to a child at North Tees Hospital in Durham. On average, a child somewhere in the world now receives a TLC Teddy every two and a half minutes.
Back in Essex — where the appeal began — the impact has been remarkable. More than half a million bears have been given to young patients in local hospitals, and organisers expect the one-millionth Essex teddy to be presented within the next few years.
Each bear comes in one of six colours and serves several purposes. Hospital staff may use them to demonstrate procedures, distract children during treatment or simply provide comfort in a frightening moment. Every child keeps the teddy, creating a lasting reminder of the care they received.
Seeing the success of the scheme, hospital teams asked whether the same comfort could be offered to children admitted to paediatric wards, particularly those arriving for planned procedures with little to reassure them.
After several years of fundraising by Freemasons’ Lodges and Chapters across Essex, that request has now become a reality.
TLC Essex operates at Basildon Hospital, Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Colchester Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Southend Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone.
Paul Reeves, current TLC Essex Chairman, said:
“Since Essex founded TLC it has spread to support over four million children across the world during some of the most stressful moments in their lives — something Essex Freemasons can be justly proud of.”
The Provincial Grand Master for Essex, Paul Tarrant, attended the anniversary launch at the Colchester Hospital alongside members of the TLC Essex team, while volunteers delivered teddies to the other hospitals across the county.
A quarter of a century after the first teddy was handed to a nervous child in Essex, those small bears now help millions of children around the world — and in the county where the story began, they are about to comfort many more.
‘*’ Neil Beverley has a notable masonic career including that of an Assistant Provincial Grand Master and being honoured with the Distinguished Service to Essex Masonry Award
To read more about TLC Essex please click link to their website: https://tlcessex.org.uk/
There are also some delightful parents’ comments about their own child’s TLC experience on the South & Mid Essex Hospital Trust Charity Facebook page – click this link:
https://www.facebook.com/Msehospcharity/posts/
Photos:
Top: Celebrations at Southend Hospital with standing L-R John Singh, Assistant Provincial Grand Master (APGM) - Neil Beverley, Founder of TLC - Paul Reeves, TLC Essex Chairman.
Across Essex Hospital celebrations with attending APGM’s unless otherwise stated:
Left – L-R Basildon Hospital with Brian McGuinness, Broomfield Hospital with Joe Shearer, Colchester Hospital with Paul Tarrant Provincial Grand Master
Right – L-R Prince Alexandra Hospital with Elliott Chevin, Queens Hospital with Richard Jordan, Whipps Cross Hospital with Peter Hollingsworth, Deputy Provincial Grand Master
