the big knit – recruiting now!

Margaret Jelleyman is recruiting staff to join in the big knit campaign for AgeUK? Don’t be put off if you can’t knit see it as an opportunity to learn a new skill.

the big knit is a charitable initiative from Innocent Drinks - you knit a tiny hat, send it to Innocent by early October, Innocent Drinks put them onto their bottles (in selected outlets), you buy one, AgeUK get 25p for every one sold (watch it happen here). Last year 1 million little hats were created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the big knit campaign. The money raised goes towards supporting AgeUK’s national and local Spread the Warmth projects. The projects provide physical warmth, such as clothing, electric blankets and hot meals, and also activities and opportunities for older people to socialise together and combat isolation and loneliness.

Although we’re heading towards the Summer and warmer weather it would be good to get a group together and see just how many hats we can knit over the next 5-6 months. I hope that those new to knitting will see creating a tiny hat as a great way to join as a “novice” knitter and be helped towards making something beautiful. “Expert” knitters should be able to make a hat in around one hour and I hope be willing to provide help to the less experienced knitters. If you really don’t want to learn to knit then I’m also open to recruiting tiny bobble makers and sewers, there’s something for everyone. Do you want to join in? All you’ll need are some needles and a ball (or oddments) of wool.

The aim will be to knit as many hats as we can (without being too competitive amongst ourselves) by October, so if you’re interested contact Margaret Jelleyman; m.h.jelleyman@bham.ac.uk, and you’ll be invited to a kick-off session in May so the knitting can begin.