Trauma Teddies

The ladies from local knitting groups ‘Yarnmongers’ and ‘Welcome Friends Craft Club’ have been knitting up a storm recently to provide the Welsh Ambulance Service with a replenished stock of trauma teddies and sensory Twiddlemuffs to help children and adults in distress.

The ladies who all attend Café 50, a social centre for the over 50s in Pontyclun, have managed to knit a total of over 400 teddies, each with their own personality, to help give young children comfort and support when they are attended by First Responders and Paramedics. They also made and donated 31 sensory Twiddlemuffs that are particularly useful when treating patients with dementia or other mental health issues as they bring a welcome distraction and comfort during what can be a frightening and confusing situation.

The ladies have been supported by Jenny and Ruth at local wool shop ‘Ammenite Yarns’ with customers who supply wool which has been greatly appreciated.

Isobel Jones from Welsh Ambulance visited Café 50 last month to meet some of the ladies responsible for the knitting and to provide them with an update on how their last batch of teddies were received.

Isobel Jones said:

1. “We are completely overwhelmed by the effort that the ladies have put in to this initiative. All the stations that have received the teddies and muffs have been very pleased to distribute them and have all asked for more. It is important to remember that the people we treat are often in terrible distress and the teddies and the muffs have helped enormously.”

The ladies have all been meeting every Monday or Thursday since before Christmas to complete their knitting.

Cllr. Margaret Griffiths said:

1. “Five years ago the council took responsibility for Café 50 to enable groups to come and use the space for free and this is what we get as a result — the ladies have achieved something truly special and their efforts are greatly appreciated.”

The initiative has been such a success in the Cwm Taf area that the Welsh Ambulance Service now plans to distribute the teddies and muffs across South Wales.

Isobel Jones added:

1. “The teddies and muffs have made a very important and valuable contribution to local people’s health and wellbeing and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has helped to make them. We’ll get them out across Wales — just please keep knitting!”

The ladies are now looking for more knitting groups to join the initiative and they are also looking for donations of wool. For more information or to make a donation please contact Tara Davies at Café 50 on 01443 238500.