Teddy scheme to help children after traumatic events

Mother and daughter Dawn and Alice have helped launch the new 'trauma ted' initiative

A scheme to provide hand-made teddy bears to help children after traumatic events has launched at a fire station in Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Fire Station will be using the teddies to offer support after incidents such as fires and car accidents.

The idea came from a group of knitters after seeing a similar initiative brought in by another fire service.

Dawn Grindey, 60, who has created some of the teddies herself, said: "I think it's brilliant because everything that's an accident is unexpected - some children can be in shock."

Each teddy bear has been hand-made by a knitter

She added: "They've seen things that they don't really want to see and if it can just calm them down for a few seconds I'm sure it will help."

Walton Knitters, a group based in Chesterfield, has 300 members across the country and around 30 of those have provided teddies.

"We love being involved in a community project," added Ms Grindey.

"It's a sense of pride that you're helping someone and it's only a small project for our knitters.

"You can use new wool or oddments that you've got left, but it does make a difference.

"They're all unique. So far I think we've done about 50."

Ms Grindey's daughter, Alice Grindey, works at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service as an equality, diversity and inclusion officer.

The 24-year-old said: "Our team was very excited to receive the trauma teds.

"We're also going to deliver information packs with them, for example for their parents to help them deal with any sort of trauma that may come from an incident.

"We're hoping it provides some comfort to them, through what may be a really traumatic incident in their life that could have a long-lasting effect.

The teddies will be given to children after traumatic incidents

"We're also hoping this leaves a good impression by the fire service, that we can ensure that they know they can come to us if they need anything after the incident, too."

The scheme is replacing a previous one by the station, but Alice said the new teddies are all hand-made.

"Previously we had some budget behind it so they were all the same, but these are more personalised," she added.

"They're from the community, for the community. They're absolutely gorgeous and so personal."