Age UK Northamptonshire has been asking local people to knit little hats ever since the Innocent Big Knit started in 2003.  Innocent donate 25p for every behatted smoothie bottle sold, so knitters in the county can help the local independent charity raise vital funds and use up their scraps of spare wool at the same time.  The Northamptonshire charity’s target this year is 15,000 little hats – their biggest ever.

One person who has been keeping the knitting needles clacking away is day centre client Jean Stephens.  Jean takes her knitting bag with her wherever she goes and says “I like to keep busy and this year it has been a real tonic to know that every little hat I produce will help raise funds for the charity.”   She has knitted 90 little hats so far and says she is determined to make it 100.  “My daughter got me started on The Big Knit by downloading the knitting patterns from the website several years ago.  It’s so easy, I could do it in my sleep,” she adds.  

Age UK Northamptonshire’s Business Development Co-ordinator Jo Bird says “Our kind supporters in Northamptonshire have knitted around 10,000 little hats so far so please keep them coming.  We appreciate every single hat we’re sent, so be sure to include your name and address when you send them to us at The William and Patricia Venton Centre in York Road or drop them off at any of our seven shops.  We always send a proper thank you to all our knitters.” 

Age UK Northamptonshire is a local independent charity and every penny raised by the Big Knit is vital, enabling the charity to carry on improving life for over 15,000 older people and their families every year.

To find out more about the services and support provided by Age UK Northamptonshire, or to get involved with fundraising activities, please visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire or call 01604 611200.