Raise your hats to The Big Knit

HAT’S off: Age Concern volunteers (from left) Vivien Coates (who knitted 754 hats), Miriam Bonworth, Mick Sheehan from Home Invited, and Shirley Evans

A warm glow as knitters smash target
YOU’VE got to take your hats off to the smoothie operators at Age Concern Oldham.

They have just knitted a staggering 3,500 hats to keep those chilly little Innocent smoothie bottles cosy as they sit out their time in supermarket refrigerators.

For every be-hatted smoothie sold Innocent gives 25p to Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign, which helps fund national and local winter projects.

The branch was asked to produce 1,000 hats for The Big Knit — now in its eighth year — but they more than exceeded that with their record-breaking woolly hat haul.

Age Concern Oldham’s Maggie Hurley said: “Winter can be a difficult time of year for many older people. The funds raised locally by The Big Knit will go a long way towards supporting our winter projects.

“We are so very proud of our army of knitters who have exceeded our expectations and managed to smash our target, which means we will now have even more money for our winter projects here in Oldham.

“I would like to say thank you to every one for their time, creativity and generosity, the hats are fantastic. I am still overwhelmed at the numbers, it’s absolutely amazing!”

Emma Hines, from Innocent drinks, said: “Innocent and Age UK have been working together on this campaign for eight years and it’s something we’re immensely proud of.

“Through The Big Knit, thousands of people across the UK will help make winter a little warmer for older people.”

Age Concern Oldham’s next knit-athon will be Christmas decorations for their tree in Oldham Parish Church.

Patterns can be obtained from Maggie on 0161-621 6102.