Children from across Staffordshire can now find a new comforting friend in their local library, thanks to the arrival of Helpful Bear.
The Staffordshire County Council initiative forms part of the Little Heroes school attendance campaign, which supports children’s emotional wellbeing and helps tackle anxiety‑related barriers to attending school.
Helpful Bear is a soft, cuddly companion to help little ones manage their worries and express their feelings.
With more than 80 per cent of primary schools already taking part in Little Heroes, the introduction of Helpful Bear into libraries means even more children, especially those whose schools aren’t yet involved, can now access this support.
From this week, every council‑managed library will have its own Helpful Bear, who wears a special backpack where children can write down their worries and tuck them safely inside. This gentle activity gives children a simple and private way to express how they feel, reinforcing the campaign’s core message ‘Every hero worries.’
Libraries will also offer Helpful Heroes workbooks, featuring age‑appropriate mindfulness activities designed to help children understand and manage their emotions. These booklets are already widely used in schools and have helped pupils overcome emotional barriers to learning.
Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“It’s wonderful to see our campaign continuing to grow, with even more creative ways to support children’s emotional wellbeing.
“Helpful Bear is already making a real difference and quickly becoming a much‑loved companion for many children across Staffordshire.
“I’m excited that both Helpful Bear and our Helpful Heroes workbooks will now be available in our libraries as well as schools. It means even more children can open up about their feelings, manage their worries, and get the support they need, wherever they are.”
Helpful Bear and the workbooks can be found at the following libraries: Biddulph, Burntwood, Burton, Cannock, Codsall, Kidsgrove, Leek, Lichfield, Newcastle, Perton, Rugeley, Stafford, Stone, Tamworth, Uttoxeter and Wombourne.
For more information about Little Heroes, visit the Little Heroes webpage.
