Residents knit comfort bears for emergency services
Residents at The Coppice, a ShireLiving independent living scheme in Shrewsbury, run by Housing Plus Group, have been busy crafting comfort bears for local emergency services.
The scheme’s ‘Knit and Natter’ group, which meets every Thursday, has spent the past three months creating 60 handmade teddy bears for firefighters to use when supporting children and vulnerable adults at distressing incidents.
The group has already made a real difference through their previous work, creating 120 blankets and bonnets for Telford Maternity Unit, as well as handmade heart pairs for Severn Hospice - one for patients and one for their loved ones.
Around 18 residents regularly attend the sessions, which welcome all abilities. While some knit, others simply come along for a cup of tea, a slice of cake and good company.
Key contributors to the project, Karen Lewis and Heidi Cocliff, joined Julie Richards, Housing and Care Assistant at The Coppice, on a recent visit to Shrewsbury Fire Station to personally deliver the bears.
The group were welcomed by Watch Manager Jez Stephenson, who gave them a tour of the station and helped them understand how the bears will be used in real-life situations.
Jez Stephenson, Watch Manager, said:
"Trauma teddy bears offer comfort when it’s needed most. Given out by fire crews at distressing incidents, they help calm children and vulnerable people, providing reassurance and something familiar to hold onto during a frightening time. It’s a small act of kindness that can make a big difference at the scene."
Julie Richards said she is incredibly proud of the group’s dedication and the difference they are making.
She added: “The Knit and Natter group have worked so hard on these bears, and it’s been wonderful to see how committed everyone has been to the project. When we visited the fire station, the team made us feel so welcome and the ladies really felt part of something special.
“The group is about so much more than knitting - it’s about bringing people together, having fun and supporting each other. We have people of all abilities, and some come along just for a chat and a cuppa. It’s a really inclusive and friendly space, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved.”
The bears will now be carried on fire engines across the county, ready to bring comfort in moments when it is needed most.
22nd May 2026