Hanley Helps Out

Last weekend, little Endon Bear and I helped Polar at her craft stall, while Hanley Bear stayed at home with Grizzly to watch England play Sweden in the World Cup.  This weekend, Polar was working again, but this time it was for Citizens Advice. 

Polar is in their benefits team and helps to run a project called Potteries Gold.  This project tries to explain, in simple language, what help is there for humans without enough money to manage on and how this help is changing.  We bears try our best to understand, but it is very complicated.

Because we want to learn more, so we can explain the rules to other bears whose humans might be badly paid or unwell, Polar says we can be Benefits Champions - or rather, Bearnefits Champions.  Benefits Champions tell their friends and neighbours about benefit changes, so everyone gets what they ought to and asks for advice when they need it.

On Saturday, Polar took all her leaflets and newsletters to a church summer fayre.  Hanley Bear volunteered to go with her - as long as he was home in time for the England versus Belgium World Cup game!  Polar said they would definitely be back for the second half.  Hanley didn't like the idea of missing the first half but he wanted so much to be a helpful bear that he agreed to go.  He put his red and white striped scarf and hat on, even though it was a hot day, so he was ready to support England as soon as he got home.

Hanley Bear made a little sign to hold, encouraging humans to become Benefits Champions, and held this up to everyone who came to the stall.  Hanley hoped lots of humans would want to be champions but Polar was very happy with the two who did volunteer, as they already do other things to help people so will be brilliant 'champs'.

When it was quiet, Hanley went to look around the hall.  There were other stalls, with local people selling hair slides and bows, bags and scarves, nice smelly things and even knitted animals, and there were raffles and tombolas. 

Top prize in the raffle was a Port Vale football shirt.  Hanley Bear growled at it and went "boo!".  As you probably know, he supports Stoke City; Port Vale are the other Stoke-on-Trent team and Hanley doesn't like them.

'Don't be mean, Hanley Bear,' said Polar.  'If they have donated it to help raise funds for the community, that's a kind thing to do, like when you and the other bears make jam or marmalade for the Paddington Fund.  You mustn't growl when someone is being good.'

Hanley Bear felt bad for booing and his ears drooped because he was sad, so Polar said he could have some cherries.  He honestly meant to save some for the rest of us, but they were so scrummy and he was so hungry after helping Polar - and growling at the Port Vale shirt - that, before he knew it, he had eaten them all!

Even though he had a very full tummy and was feeling a little bit poorly, when it was time to pack up Hanley set about gathering up the leaflets and rolling up the bunting very keenly, and soon they were ready to go.  He only missed the first few minutes of his football game but, by then, Belgium were already a goal ahead.

"Boo!" went Hanley Bear.