Sheltered housing residents ‘knit and natter' for charity
01 June 2004

(From back left to right) Dafney Keighley, Ruth Wiltshire, Mary Hoppee, Elaine Scanes, Sue Andrews (Scheme Manager), Betty Thomas and Jean Armstrong. (From front left to right) Stella Ponterfact, Dorothy Coward, Muriel Hoskisson and Gladys Rawlings.

Residents of a South Somerset Homes owned sheltered housing scheme at Burrells House in West Coker have been busy knitting and nattering for charity.

Resident, Muriel Hoskisson started the group off 2 years ago. To begin with it was just to get a few residents together in the afternoon to have a natter and do some knitting. From this, they have grown into a very happy little group who feel they can give something back to others.

Muriel Hoskisson is thrilled with what they have achieved. “We meet every Thursday afternoon and each take it in turn to bring the tea, coffee and cakes. We decided to make a small donation each time we meet and the result from this has been really wonderful and enabled us to support so many charities.”

Some of the charities they have already helped are; the orphanage in Bulgaria, which they donated blankets, gloves, baby clothes and soft toys to; Breast Cancer UK; Yeovil Night Shelter Project; Women's Refuge; St Margaret's Hospice, and finally Winston Wish, which they donated £100 to help bereaved children.

At the moment the group of ladies are making ‘knee blankets' for the British Red Cross, which are used for patients in wheelchairs on the journey from the ambulance to the hospital.

Sue Andrews, Scheme Manager at Burrells House said, “They are a very kind and giving group of ladies and I am very proud of what they have achieved and the amount of good they do for the charities. I try to support them in anyway I can.”

Sue added, “Not only is it good for the charities, but it gives them a great deal of self-esteem and does my heart good to hear the laughter coming from the communal room each time they get together – it's better than any pills the GP can give!”

(From left to right) Dorothy Coward and Mary Hoppee