The Tender Loving Care (TLC) Bear scheme began in Essex in 2001 and grew quickly across England and Wales. Since June 2024 alone, The Berkshire Masonic Charity (BMC) has donated over 1,000 TLC Bears to hospitals and fostering services in Berkshire. Over the years, more than 10,000 bears have now been given to children in Berkshire—a remarkable achievement that reflects the charity’s ongoing commitment to care and community.
The BMC is delighted to announce the extension of its TLC Bear scheme. Already a much-loved initiative at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and the West Berkshire Community Hospital in Newbury, the scheme now reaches even further—supporting fostering teams at Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council.
The TLC Bear scheme provides cuddly teddy bears to children during difficult times. In hospitals, the bears are given to young patients arriving at Accident & Emergency to offer comfort, calm their worries, and even help nurses explain procedures. For children coming into foster care, a bear provides a companion that can stay with them through their journey and become a treasured keepsake in their memory box.
Two boxes of TLC Bears have already been delivered to the fostering teams in Wokingham and Bracknell, where they are being warmly received by babies and young children, who find reassurance in their new friends.
The impact of the scheme continues to be strongly felt in hospitals too. Nurses report that the bears are invaluable in helping to comfort and distract children during difficult moments. Families are equally grateful, knowing that their child can take the bear home for bedtime cuddles. The BMC is proud to continue providing TLC Bears wherever they are needed most—bringing comfort, reassurance, and a little bit of magic to children facing challenging times.
