Knit to keep others warm

An initiative to get people making items of clothing which they can donate to help others is being promoted by CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK's biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday October 25.

CSV Make a Difference Day is asking people, from professionals to novices, to help knit blankets, scarves, gloves or anything else which they might think of, that can be given to vulnerable elderly or homeless people who would struggle to keep warm as the weather takes a turn for the worse.

In the UK there are about 700 rough sleepers at any one time (which is separate to the 400,000 'hidden homeless' persons in unsecure accommodation such as hostels or night shelters), and at least 2.5 million older people live in a single heated room in order to keep warm and save on heating costs. This number is likely to increase by 2009 when older people are likely to make up more than one third of the population.

Simon Tiller from the CSV Make a Difference Day Campaign said, "The approaching winter months, for many brings about thoughts of happy holidays and seasons celebrations, for others it will bring a constant worry of never being able to keep warm whether through poor health or rising heating bills".

The knitted pieces can be donated to a day centre, homeless shelter, a friend, neighbour or be given out to a homeless person on the street. People can also share their skills by starting a knitting group for CSV Make a Difference Day, where they can have fun and meet new people too.

CSV Make a Difference Day is also welcoming the involvement of those who are elderly and housebound, and who want to make a helpful contribution to benefit others. Volunteering by elderly people brings enormous benefits in promoting good health and well-being, as well as combating the threat of isolation. Simon says, "Older people want to be seen as a resource, not as a problem, and for those who are housebound it will help to make them feel they still have a lot to offer.

A free handy how-to knit guide will be sent out to anyone who requests it after they register their project for CSV Make a Difference Day. The guide will provide assistance on how to create hat and scarf patterns, and information on where to donate the pieces.

To register a project with CSV Make a Difference Day please visit www.csv.org.uk/difference or call 0800 284 533. Once this has been done, a free action pack including the how-to guides will be sent out along with certificates, balloons, stickers, T shirts, posters.