If you can knit or sew…

KAREN WILLIAMS, 60, FROM BIRMINGHAM, IS THE FOUNDER OF BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION

Flicking through an inflight magazine on my way to Australia to visit my son, I stumbled across an article about a charity who arranged rucksacks full of essentials for children in emergency care. After my holiday, I did some research and realised there was no similar service for children in the UK. More often than not, children leave everything they own behind when they flee a domestically violent situation. They arrive at a refuge with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing.

Wanting to make a difference, I launched the Buddy Bag Foundation five years ago, providing bags of love for children who require emergency care. Our rucksacks contain toiletries, PJs and underwear, plus comfort items, such as a book and teddy.

Every year, nearly 50,000 UK children require emergency care and so far, we’ve delivered 31,000 Buddy Bags. Domestic violence has increased during the pandemic, which means our bags are even more vital.

Right now, we need volunteers to knit teddies, and sew toiletry bags and pencil cases. The patterns and guides are on our website and Facebook page. These gifts can make a child feel comforted, loved and safe.

I know there are talented crafters out there who are so kind and generous, that might be looking for new ways to find purpose. Now, knitters as old as 90 and sewers as young as six have helped me do just that, by creating over 5,000 toys and counting.

One Buddy Bag recipient wrote to tell me: ‘Thank you. You make us feel like we matter.’ That’s all I want to do, but I couldn’t do it without all the wonderful people who take the time to help. l buddybagfoundation.co.uk