ShelterBox has set up a Teddy Trail for young adventurers and map-readers that leads to the UK’s first permanent disaster relief exhibition, and a gift of a picnic blanket with the chance to win a cuddly prize worth £10.    

For all those youngsters who find city shopping a chore, disaster relief charity ShelterBox has now set up an exciting treasure trail to make trips to Truro more exciting. 

The ‘Teddy Trail’ is made up of ten locations, and young trailfinders can start at whichever one they want. Pick up the free map card in any participating store.

The trail finishes at Cornwall’s newest visitor attraction, the ShelterBox Disaster Relief Visitor Centre, where the whole family can enjoy free entry to the hands-on exhibits and interactive screens telling the exciting story of Cornwall’s most famous international charity.   

This fun Trail runs from now until the end of October half term holiday.

Nine Truro shops are taking part - Waterstones, Cornish Food Box, Inhabit, the Truro Visitor Centre, Truro Arts Café, Entertainer, the Compton Castle paddle steamer, Bambu café, and Illustrated Living in Lemon Street Market.

In each location there is a named teddy – write his or her name down and progress to the next. The teddies share the names of beneficiaries ShelterBox has helped in over 95 countries across the world. 

The Trail winds its way to ShelterBox’s new headquarters building in Charles Street, where trailfinders and their families will have entry to the exhibition, AND BE GIVEN A FREE PICNIC BLANKET. A completed card also qualifies for free entry to a draw for one of four special ShelterBox teddies, each worth £10. 

Visitor Experience Manager Lesley-Ann Eaton-Keen says, ‘This will be a fun activity for young shoppers of all ages.

'Little ones should, of course, follow the trail with a parent.

'And if little legs can’t manage to trudge around all nine shops, don’t worry.

'We’ll still be happy to greet the whole family at ShelterBox and enter you in the draw. Why not stop for some refreshments in our café too, or chat to one of our lovely volunteers about how young people and their schools can get involved in ShelterBox and help families in need around the world?’ 

‘We are very grateful to these Truro traders for taking part.

And, if the idea takes off, who knows? We may set up a similar event for Christmas shoppers.’ 

The Teddy Trail runs from now until Saturday 28 October. The draw for the prize teddies will take place on Monday 30 October. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Visitor Centre is open from 10 am to 4pm every day except Sundays. Teddy trail entry cards can be presented on any day, regardless of when the trail was followed. Good luck!  

There are now almost 85 million people around the world forced from their homes due to natural disasters or conflict, the greatest number since World War Two.

ShelterBox is a UK charity and world authority on providing innovative, rapid and practical shelter to families in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places and most devastated disaster zones.

Since its start in 2000 it’s helped more than one million people worldwide rebuild their lives, and it now has affiliate ShelterBox operations across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. More info at www.shelterbox.org