We met PC Shaun Baker the other day on George Street and noticed that he had a wee passenger on board. This is a Trauma Teddy who will swing into action whenever needed.
The Trauma Teddy is provided by police officers whenever children perhaps need to be distracted in any upsetting circumstances. They help police officers to build a relationship with children and turn the experience into a more positive one. The initiative began in Dundee and is now spreading across Scotland.
We discovered that there is a pattern for all you keen handicraft people to knit or crochet more teddies.
So here it is – just in case you have some spare wool and time :
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Open in new tab Finished teddies can be handed in to any Children 1st office or participating police station, or alternatively you can post them to Children 1st, 83 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 1AT.
Also, if you at the Edinburgh Festival between now and 27th August, you can hand teddies in to the Police Scotland command vehicle by the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens.
Once teddies have been received they will be dressed in a Children 1st t shirt and distributed to police vehicles across Scotland. The back of the t shirt features the number for Parentline, as a way to remind families that a kind and skilled listening ear is available seven days a week through our free helpline and webchat service.
If you are making or have completed a teddy please let us know through Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #TraumaTeddies.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
