Get knitting to keep older people warm this winter

15/10/2008

 The Community Service Volunteers (CSV) are asking people to knit items of clothing which they can donate to help others keep warm this winter. It's part of their 'Make a Difference Day' -  the UK's biggest single day of volunteering - on Saturday, 25th October 2008.

 

CSV is asking everyone from professionals to complete novices to help knit blankets, scarves, gloves, hats -  or anything else they might think of - that can be given to vulnerable elderly or homeless people who will struggle to keep warm as the weather takes a turn for the worse. Currently at least 2.5 million older people live in a single heated room in order to keep warm and save on heating costs, and this number is likely to increase rapidly in 2009 when older people will begin to make up more than one third of the population.

 

Simon Tiller from the CSV said:  "For hundreds of people, the approaching winter months will bring with them the constant worry of not being able to keep warm - whether through poor health or rising heating bills".

 

All the knitted pieces can be donated to a day centre, a homeless shelter, a friend, a 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.

 

The Make a Difference Day is also welcoming the involvement of those who are elderly and housebound who want to make a helpful contribution to benefit others. Volunteering, especially by elderly people, brings enormous benefits in promoting good health and well- being, as well as combating the threat of isolation.  Simon said: 

"Older people want to be seen as a resource, not a problem, and for those who are housebound it will help to make them feel they still have a lot to offer."

 

The CSV is also promoting 'How-to Bridge the Generation Gap'  - an initiative to encourage young and old to mix together on 25th October. The idea is to cut through the misunderstandings and negative stereotypes which sometimes divide the two generations by encouraging them to use their skills and knowledge to help each other tackle everyday difficulties.

 

Young people are being encouraged to help older people use mobile phones - preventing isolation and often vital in emergencies - and to work with social networking sites such as facebook. Seniors will show their younger companions skills they inherited as they grew up - such as knitting or simply helping with reading in an attempt to tackle falling literacy.

 

To register with CSV Make a Difference Day please visit the site below 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.

 

The CSV Make a Difference Day will take place on 25th October 2008 with activities happening a week either side.

 

 

Relevant links

• CSV Make a Difference Day (Opens a new window)