A BEAR hunt inspired by a Warwick children’s writer has given prospective parents paws for thought.
The event – in which children used a map to spot teddy bears and posters displayed in windows on Woodloes Estate – raised £260 for charity Adoption UK.
Author Sam Langely-Swain’s book, The Blanket Bears, which explains the adoption journey for children, was behind the idea for the event.
The dad-of-two, who lives on the estate, said the story of two lonely young bears, on a journey to finding their forever family, was inspired by his own adopted children’s journey.
He added: “The story acknowledges the mix of emotions children being adopted can feel – the fear and worry, as well as the joy of experiencing love and kindness from their new carers. I knew that there was a need for a story to help families talk about adoption as an overall concept, to help prepare them to use their own ‘life story books’ – a book created by the social worker which is all about the child.
“Children would be familiar with the bears’ journey and have an affinity with their story, finding comfort in the fact that other children may also have experienced similar difficult starts but found their own ways into forever families, too.”
The writer also runs his own children’s book publishing company – Owlett Press – a dream realised by he and his husband’s parent journey which began in 2014.
Sam added: “The roller coaster experience of becoming a parent to two school age siblings overnight, with all the additional challenges and hurdles that would follow, has completely reshaped my identity. It was my children’s struggle that inspired me to write and to set up Owlet Press, an inclusive children’s book publishers, so that more children could find joy in seeing themselves in books.”
The event was enjoyed by generations old and young, and prizes were awarded by Warwick mayor Terry Morris, accompanied by his favourite teddy.
Resident and former draftsman Cliff Woodward added his creative touch to the hunt, having crafted and painted 25 bears, from Paddington and Pooh Bear, to Rupert. The bears, which also include some designed in military uniform to represent the Royal British Legion, will be sold in aid of Adoption UK.
Visit www.adoptionuk.org for information on adoption.
