Foster Parent Knits Bobby Buddies for Children Involved in Incidents
One of our foster parents in Milton Keynes has put her creativity to good use by knitting Bobby Buddies to bring comfort to young children facing domestic situations.
One of our foster parents in Milton Keynes has put her creativity to good use by knitting Bobby Buddies to bring comfort to young children facing domestic situations.
The scheme originally set up by Dorset Police but adopted by Northamptonshire Police, involves volunteers knitting police officer teddy bears for officers to use when they are dealing with an incident where children are present.
Following an appeal from the Domestic Abuse Prevention and Investigation Team (DAPIT), Nicole Brown, a foster parent from our Milton Keynes fostering team has knitted 12 Bobby Buddies, which will be given to children by officers to help communicate with them and break down barriers that can exist when police attend following a domestic incident.
Detective Sergeant Jen Castle from DAPIT, said: “The support from local knitting enthusiasts has been absolutely phenomenal, and we cannot thank them enough for all their hard work and generous donations.
“Working in this area, we are aware children must not be overlooked when officers attend their homes to deal with an incident, at what can often be a very confusing and frightening time for them.
“We hope Bobby Buddies will not only bring some comfort to those young children who need it, but also to help officers gain the trust of the child, whose voice should never go unheard.”
Simon Peacock, Principal Social Worker for ISP Milton Keynes commented: “Bobby Buddies are a great way to offer comfort and support to children who are found to be facing difficult situations.
“Domestic abuse can have devastating effects on children and the bears ensure that police officers offer something tangible to hand over and talk about, to break down barriers, and engage with the young child.
“We’re extremely proud of Nicole for her willingness to contribute to this fantastic initiative and want to thank her for her incredible production rate.
“The feedback received has been great, the children and young people have loved them and are already gaining a great sense of comfort from the teddies.”
More knitters are always needed to ensure there is a Bobby Buddy available for every young child who needs one, and a pattern is supplied to every volunteer.
If you’re an expert with a pair of knitting needles or know someone who would like to help, please email Rachel.Percival@northants.pnn.police.uk.
If you’d like to learn more about how to become a foster carer and fostering allowance today or speak to our team on 0800 0857989.
