A SIMPLE but powerful tool is transforming how young people engage with mental-health support in Swansea schools.
Platfform, a mental health and social justice charity, has introduced its new ‘Ted’ therapy bears into counselling sessions across Swansea schools, offering children a comforting and accessible way to engage with mental-health support.
Designed to help young people feel more at ease during difficult conversations, the bears are already becoming a valuable tool for counsellors working to build trust, reduce anxiety and create a safe space for pupils to open up more naturally or to express their emotions.
The initiative forms part of Platfform’s wider commitment to improving mental health support for children and young people across Wales.
Lisa Rouse, Service Manager for Platfform’s Children, Young People and Families’ Team commented: “The idea evolved from recognising that many children can find it intimidating to open up to an unfamiliar adult. The teddies offer a gentler and more approachable alternative to some traditional therapeutic methods, helping practitioners build trust more quickly.
“The bears act as a grounding tool, giving children something to hold, focus on or interact with during sessions. This simple sensory comfort can make a significant difference in helping them feel safe and ready to talk.”
Our teams of counsellors and wellbeing therapists have used the teddies to support STAR breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and discussions about bullying and school-related worries. Even having Ted present in the room has helped reduce the fear and discomfort some children feel when attending counselling for the first time.
The children are often more likely to talk more openly to Ted, or reach out to hold him, as it seems to give them a physical connection and confidence to express themselves more freely.
The impact has also been felt personally by our staff. One of our counsellors commented that spotting Ted in their rucksack on the way to work helped them feel less alone and reminded them they were ‘working together’ with Ted throughout the day which is a lovely thought.”
Although they have only been in use for a few weeks, the team is already seeing encouraging results. In primary schools, the teddies have been used alongside standard CORS wellbeing charts to help younger children express their feelings more easily.
They are now being introduced into two-hour transition workshops for Year 6 pupils moving to secondary school, with nearly 1,400 children already booked onto those sessions.
Funded by Swansea Council and launched in September 2024, Platfform’s Swansea schools-based counselling project offers support for children and young people aged 5 to 19 years, including counselling, peer mentoring, transition support, training, and one-to-one and group wellbeing sessions.
Children and young people are currently being supported in 79 primary schools, 16 secondary schools, and 1 Pupil Referral Unit, with around 1,750 referrals received to date. The team estimates that around two-thirds of the children seen, have benefited from Ted being present during counselling.
For a very small investment in the soft toys, the early impact has been considerable.
The team will continue gathering feedback from children, young people and staff to understand how Team Ted can further support therapy and wellbeing work.
