New non-profit launches to bring light and bear hugs to children entering emergency foster care

Ted’s Light CIC launches with Crowdfunder campaign to offer vulnerable children love and reassurance through lockdown and beyond

LONDON, UK – Ted’s Light, a new, non-profit community interest company (CIC) is today launching a national appeal to support the 30,000 children entering emergency foster care in the UK each year. The campaign is hosted by Crowdfunder and aims to provide vulnerable children with a teddy bear companion to join them on their journey, giving the child a focus for love when they need it most. For children over three years of age, a night light will also be provided to help them settle into new bedrooms and strange surroundings.

Backed by a number of national ambassadors, including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Ted’s Light CIC aims to provide a piece of the puzzle that can be difficult for overstretched local authorities to meet, particularly given the heightened pressure of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Mat Campbell-Hill, Chair and Chief Bear Wrangler at Ted’s Light explained, “According to the Fostering Network, a child enters the care system every 20 minutes and although no official figures have yet been released, we’re hearing reports from social workers that this situation has only got worse through the first lockdown. Local authorities are doing everything they can to support children through this traumatic process but they have to focus their limited resources on practical things like clothing and toothbrushes.” He continued, “Hugging a teddy bear can make all the difference to a child feeling alone, afraid and unsure of who to turn to for love and support so we want to ensure that every child entering care has one of their very own.”

Ted’s Light has so far completed a successful teddy bear pilot with Coram, a leading group of specialist organisations helping children, young people, professionals and families, with 85 Teds heading to new homes with children in the South East. The CIC now plans to offer its support nationally to local authorities and foster care networks across the UK and is hoping to raise £15,000 in its first Crowdfunder campaign.

“Just £15 covers the cost of a Ted and night light for a child in need so with £15,000 we hope to start making a little bit more love and reassurance available to children across the country at a very difficult time,” said Campbell-Hill. “Ted’s Light was created to honour the memory of a very special little boy who loved, lived and will be forever missed and our long-term goal is to ensure that every child entering emergency foster care has a source of comfort to accompany them on that journey.”

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Editors notes

The Ted’s Light Crowdfunder campaign can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/tedslight-shinesbright

For more information about Ted’s Light, see our website: www.tedslight.com