STAFF from Buckfast Abbey have clubbed together to donate more than 100 teddy bears to help comfort children experiencing distress caused by conflict, starvation or abuse worldwide.

Led by Alison Gagg, Buckfast Abbey’s education manager, the project has seen colleagues from across all the Abbey’s departments joining forces to collect soft, cuddly teddy bears over the summer months, ready to send to children in areas of conflict or crisis, such as Ukraine, Syria and Pakistan.

The Abbey’s congregation of bears was packaged up and sent to the small, Herefordshire-based charity, The Teddy Trust, whose team of volunteers send teddy bears to traumatised children suffering distress in war or disaster zones around the world.

Alison says: ‘Having launched the project at the start of the summer, it’s been wonderful to receive support from so many members of staff here at the Abbey.

‘It’s been a pleasure for all of us.

‘The Teddy Trust is a remarkable organisation which helps children that have suffered the most appalling traumas through the gift of soft, cuddly and reassuring teddy bears.’

To learn more about The Teddy Trust campaign, how to get involved, and suitable teddies to send, visit https://teddytrust.org.uk.

For more information on Buckfast Abbey visit, https://www.buckfast.org.uk