Devon & Cornwall Police are pleased to announce that they have partnered with the Buddy Bag Foundation to help provide comfort to children experiencing emergency care.
The Buddy Bag Foundation was founded in 2015 and creates backpacks filled with essential items for children in emergency situations including toiletries, pyjamas, and comfort items such as a book and teddy bear. The individual bags are tailored so that children receive age-appropriate items.
Devon & Cornwall Police is the first police force in the UK to partner with the charity who have donated the backpacks free of charge. They will be held at key locations across the Force area and available to all officers to use when children are given emergency accommodation. Bags will also be available during major incidents to support young people.
Sergeant Wes Watkins, the scheme co-ordinator said: “I am proud to introduce Buddy Bags into UK policing. When we need to apply police protection powers to prevent serious harm, these bags will make a real difference. Police are often the first to attend traumatic incidents and the bags can help restore a sense of safety and security that will be remembered long after the incident has passed.”
Bags will be available from custody centres in Barnstaple, Exeter, Torquay, Plymouth, Newquay, and Camborne.
Visit buddybagfoundation.co.uk to find out more about Buddy Bags.
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