Nan’s Sewing Group to the Rescue: Therapy Team Runs Out of Sensory Bears

Photo: Alex Halsey presents flowers to his Nan, Jean Sampson, to thank her and her group for making the sensory bears.

When Cornwall Council’s Family Plus Team nearly ran out of the crucial sensory bears used in their work with vulnerable children, Alex Halsey knew just who to call—his nan, Jean Sampson. The shortage of the special ‘Think-Feel-Do’ bears had been causing concern, but Jean and her sewing group, the Bridge View Quilters, stepped up to the challenge.

A Community Effort

Jean quickly rallied her fellow sewers in Saltash, and help soon came from another local group, the Brunnel Quilters. With nearly 50 sewers from both groups pitching in, they dedicated more than 160 hours to create 82 unique sensory bears. These handmade bears are essential tools for Alex’s work with children who no longer live with their birth parents, helping them explore their emotions and past experiences.

Last week, Alex, who manages the Family Plus Team, made a special trip to The Core Youth and Community Centre in Saltash, where the groups are based, to collect the much-needed bears. Grateful for the support, Alex said, “I’m overwhelmed by what my Nan and her friends have managed to achieve and would like to say a huge thank you to all of them. Every single bear has been made with such love and care, and they are so much more personal and unique than anything mass-produced.”

The Importance of Sensory Bears

The ‘Think-Feel-Do’ sensory bears are a vital part of the Family Plus Team’s Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW), which supports children who have experienced trauma, separation, or significant changes in their lives. The bears feature patches on their heads (representing ‘think’), hearts (representing ‘feel’), and paws (representing ‘do’), which help children better understand and express their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Alex explained the significance of the bears, saying, “They are proven to be particularly effective for young people who have experienced trauma… By using the bears in Therapeutic Life Story Work, children and young people can be supported to gain insights into their internal world and learn healthier ways to cope and respond to their emotions.”

A Growing Need

Originally inspired by a presentation at the Australian Childhood Trauma conference in 2016, the demand for these bears has grown since the Family Plus Team expanded its model of Therapeutic Life Story Work to all children in care. The bears were previously used for children with Special Guardianship Orders, but the expansion increased demand, leading to the recent shortage.

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, cabinet member for children and families at Cornwall Council, praised the efforts of the sewing groups: “This is a truly heart-warming story, and I would like to thank the amazing members of both sewing groups in Saltash for their compassion and generosity.”

To learn more about the Family Plus Team and their work with vulnerable children, visit Cornwall Council’s Special Guardianship page.

For anyone interested in joining the Bridge View Quilters, you can contact Pam Eccles at 01752 852185.

Photo: Alex Halsey with one of the sensory bears.