This week GB made our second donation of Gentle Bears to the New South Wales Police Force, through Em’s Friends – Trauma Teddies group.
Em’s Friends is an initiative whereby the community can donate handmade teddies (or any other soft and squishy toy) which are then distributed to NSW police stations, so they can give to children who have recently been affected by crime, domestics or traffic accidents.
The extraordinary Senior Constable Emma Whitmill, who works as a domestic violence liaison officer at the Redfern local area command (LAC) in Sydney, created the group 18 months ago in effort to help children (and adults) realise that police are there to help and they are people they can trust.
NSW General Manager, Kate Fegan and Corporate Administration Assistant, Laura Geelan delivered the bears to Redfern Police Station on Monday.
“GB proudly provide an important service to the community and we are honoured to be able to contribute to such a worthy initiative that brings comfort to children who are affected by trauma” Kate said.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the GB Gentle Bear program.
Gentle Bear came in to existence through collaboration between GB and the South Australia Police Department, as a way to minimise Post Traumatic Stress-related injuries. Since 2007 more than 10,000 bears have been distributed worldwide.
Follow Gentle Bear’s mission on Facebook here.
For more information on Em’s Friends – Trauma Teddies click here.
A team of Sydney based GB-ers lent a hand to help tag the bears and prep them for delivery.