Written by George O’Shaughnessy
Inclusivity Consultant at Novel Entertainment.
Cushion design by Lucy Freeth. Bears by School Bears
Kindness teddy bears are ready to be deployed to many children and young people this Christmas; each bear will be wearing the Kindness Wave hearts designed by the 13-year-old sister and 7-year-old daughter of children’s rights campaigner Laura Beveridge.
A truly collective creation, each heart colour represents the favourite colours of the four young writers who were the first to receive Kindness Wave parcels during the pandemic, and the Kindness Wave logo symbolises hope, love, comfort and kindness, always keeping children and young people in mind.
The Kindness bears will be jumping inside Horrid Henry Madlug backpacks, a collaboration that was brought together by Novel Entertainment this year,
in recognition of Madlug’s work and their mantra that ‘no child deserves to carry their life in a bin bag’.
Each backpack purchased by Novel Entertainment will in turn mean that a special tote bag will go to a care experienced child or young person, creating another chain of giving.
Also in each of the Horrid Henry backpacks will be an amazing DK First Picture Dictionary, all of which have been generously donated by Dorling Kindersley, and New College Oxford have also very kindly provided funding towards the parcels.
The parcels will be delivered to children and young people who are currently living in the settlement programme and being supported by the brilliant team at Asylum Welcome here in Oxford, as well as others through the
Spires Children’s Home and Rose Hill Primary School.
We offer our truly heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to our festive parcels this year, and we look forward to working with many more partners next year.
We plan to share even more love, comfort, hope and kindness and to continue to highlight the value, worth and dignity of all children and young people, everywhere.
Please do get in touch if you’d like to join us, and meanwhile wishing you all a very happy festive season.