Toys to brighten a tough day

Tauranga woman Suzy Brown has seen how traumatic it can be for abused kids to have to relive their experiences during meetings with specially trained child interviewers so she decided to do something about it.

Ms Brown started collecting soft toys to give to kids after they had been through the forensic interview or medical examination process and has already rounded up more than 150 teddies.

Her creativity and commitment in setting up Tedz 4 the Kids saw her awarded a District Commander's certificate of appreciation yesterday.

Bay of Plenty police District Commander Superintendent Glen Dunbier presented Ms Brown with the award at a morning tea with members of the Tauranga police child protection team and Child Youth and Family.

"I heard [forensic interviewer] Julie speak at a foster care training evening and she was talking about the work they do with the children and it was so sad and so much bigger than I realised," Ms Brown said. "I came up with this idea, I just thought it would be so cool for the kids to takem them home after an interview."

Ms Brown said she the success of the project came down to the people who make and donate the soft toys.

Email suzybrown@xtra.co.nz if you have soft toys you woudl like to donate.