A mum has taken to social media to share a moving story of a random act of kindness she experienced at the hands of a stranger in Manchester city centre yesterday.
Mother-of-two Chelsea Ann Robinson was walking down Market Street yesterday afternoon with her son Kian when she was approached by a lady she did not know who asked if the young boy liked teddy bears, and while Chelsea understandably found herself a little unsure at the reasoning behind the question at first, the stranger’s response left her “feeling emotional”.
Chelsea said she had “never felt so much kindness as we just received”.
Retelling the encounter in a now-viral post on Facebook, Chelsea said: “I’ve never felt so much kindness as we just received 5 minutes ago.
“To this wonderful lady, thank you,
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“We were just making our way across town when we were approached and Kian was asked if he liked teddy bears? My natural response was, ‘well yeah but why?’ And she explained that her baby would have been 8 years old and every year she buys 2 bears and travels 70 miles to Manchester to gift one to a child of similar age that her sweet baby would have been [and] the other is kept by herself and the family.”
Chelsea also admitted that the stranger’s gesture came “at a time of need” after experiencing a difficult year herself, and revealed that her son had also sadly lost his father too. She continued: “After all we’ve been through this year, especially for my precious little Kian losing his dad, I felt we had such a connection even in that brief moment.
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“I believe that angels come around in a time of need and this certainly was that.”
How beautiful is this?
Given the nature of the touching story and the poignancy of the stranger’s act, the post has gone on to resonate with thousands of people, amassing well over 7.3K interactions, thousands of shares, and hundreds of comments by members of the public up and down the country who praised the stranger for her touching gift, and sent well wishes and messages of support to all involved.
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One person commented: “Everything happens for a reason, you were meant to meet this lady, I promise you [and] I’m so happy he loves his bear.”
Another said: “Yes there are earthy angels, I believe that. What a beautiful kind gesture from this lady to give to this little man.”
A third added: “Beautiful – nothing more pure than human kindness”.
This is what Manchester is all about.
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Tens of thousands queue for exclusive new Selfridges Jellycat toy
Daisy Jackson
Selfridges has today unveiled a brand-new, exclusive Jellycat toy – and it’s proving so popular an online queue has had to be put in place.
At the time of writing, a whopping 28,000 people are currently in a virtual queue to purchase the adorable new Jellycat character, with a wait time of more than an hour.
Today, Selfridges debuted a world-exclusive toy for the department store – a plushie version of its iconic yellow bag.
The Jellycat Amuseables toy comes in a soft yellow fabric, with the signature Jellycat smile, plus corded handles and legs.
And it does function as a miniature bag too, perfect for storing other pieces from your collection.
It’s been launched to celebrate a milestone 25 years of partnership between the two brands.
The Jellycat Amuseables Selfridges Bag. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Jellycat Amuseables Selfridges Bag. Credit: The Manc Group
The Selfridges x Jellycat exclusive retails at £48 – and its price has done absolutely nothing to deter people from shopping.
As well as being stocked online, the Selfridges bag soft toy is available in store in Exchange Square and at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, as well as in Birmingham and London.
Judd Crane, Selfridges Executive Director, Buying and Brand, said: “We are very proud to be part of Jellycat’s incredible story, as one of the brand’s first stockists, launching at Selfridges in 2000,” reports The Industry.Fashion.
The current queue on the Selfridges website for the Jellycat exclusive
“We have watched the Jellycat brand, and family, evolve as its loyal and inclusive community of fans and collectors continues to grow and grow. Twenty five years later, Jellycat is a firm favourite with our customers, who come to us for characters and experiences which make their day brighter.
“The Selfridges yellow bag is perhaps the most recognisable part of our brand personality, and we are excited be able to share it with Jellycat!”
You can pick up the Jellycat Amuseables Selfridges Bag in-store and online from today.
To celebrate 25 years of @Jellycat and @Selfridges, there’s a brand new character on the shelf and she’s beautiful 🥹💛 📍 Available now at both Selfridges Exchange Square and Trafford Centre #manchester#selfridges#jellycat#jellycatcollection#manc
There’s a FREE Children in Need event coming to MediaCityUK
Thomas Melia
An all-new and completely free to enjoy Children in Need event is making its way to MediaCityUK later this November, and it’s bringing along some iconic brands.
Everyone’s favourite yellow bear is returning to Manchester to take over MediaCityUK and rename it Pudsey’s Piazza for one night only.
Pudsey Bear is heading down to MediaCityUK and he’s bringing all the best activities, games, famous food, live music and more for four hours of FREE family-oriented fun.
You can expect to see Pudsey and the team alongside a whole host of celebrities, brand partners and lots of friends when Children in Need hosts its celebration later this November.
Some of the brands which have been announced include staple high street bakery Greggs, a collaboration between McDonald’s and its sports counterpart, Fun Football UK.
DJ AG is just one of the special guests preparing to take over MediaCityUK this November for Children in Need (Credit: Supplied)
Also joining the bill is viral TikTok potato-loving duo Spud Bros, who will be serving up their famed jacket potatoes with an array of fillings to choose from inside their recognisable big red van.
Greggs will be bringing a huge double-decker bus to Pudsey’s Piazza at MediaCityUK with treats on hand throughout this evening celebration, as well as interactive games for you to play.
You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of a replica Red Arrows jet, which will be situated on the piazza all night long courtesy of aerial experts Royal Air Force.
If that wasn’t enough for you, your night will be soundtracked by the one and only viral nomad music maker DJ AG, who’ll be playing out tunes as part of a charity livestream at the bandstand.
MediaCityUK is the home of BBC Children in Need, so it’s only fitting that Pudsey would throw one of his biggest parties yet right here in Greater Manchester.
Pudsey and his friends are transforming MediaCityUK into Pudsey’s Piazza on Friday, 14 November from 4pm to 8pm, and they’re encouraging anyone to come along, especially since it’s FREE.
Emily Sergeant -
21st December 2020 
