2000 free teddy bears for Wiltshire’s military children

More than 370 military families from Wiltshire who have a serving person deployed this Christmas have received a free teddy bear from the charity "Little Troopers".

The military children's charity has partnered with the Build-A-Bear Foundation to distribute more than 2,000 free teddy bears to military families across the UK as part of its Christmas Smiles campaign, to bring smiles to the faces of military children over the holidays.

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, comments: "Lots of military families experience deployment and separation over Christmas, which is why each year, Little Troopers runs our Christmas Smiles campaign to bring smiles to the faces of military children who are missing their parent at this critical time of year. It reminds them we understand how difficult Christmas can be with a parent away from home and that our small charity is always thinking of them. The bears are so appreciated by the children who receive them, and they are always there if a child ever feels lonely or sad during deployment."

The teddy bears are just one of many things that Little Troopers is doing to support military children this Christmas. The charity has organised free cinema screenings and given away pantomime tickets, books and other prizes.

The charity also has many year-round resources that parents and schools can tap into to help support military children, including its deployment separation pack, military teen podcast, military child wellbeing course and more. For more information, visit www.littletroopers.net

2000 free teddy bears for Wiltshire's military children - New Valley News