Caring group makes blankets for sick kids

A group of dedicated crafters has handed over 30 blankets to help sick or distressed children.

Laugh ‘n’ Craft, which meets at the YMCA in Paisley, is made up of women who are skilled at knitting, crocheting, sewing and other handiwork.

And their latest venture was to knit for Project Linus UK, whose mission is to hand over blankets and quilts to children in hospital or other places.

Marion Scott- Lang, Glasgow South and Renfrewshire co- ordinator for the project, said: “We distribute quilts and blankets for distressed children in hospitals, hospices, being cared for at home, women’s refuges – where a child needs a hug.

“I cover the maternity at the RAH and the new [Glasgow] hospital.

“Quilts are our main thing but yes, we do take knitting.

“I met Linda of Laugh ‘n’ Craft at the SECC at a stand and she told me about her group.

“And I said can I come along and give you a little chat and see if there was anything they’d got that I could use.”

In Scotland last year more than 7000 children were given a blanket or a quilt from Project Linus UK.

“That is quite a lot when you take the population of Scotland,” Mrs Scott-Lang said. “I give just under 400 every year. “That’s actually not a huge amount, believe it or not. I could do double that.

“But you can only give out what you get in.

“But by the time you go round hospitals and things like they soon mount up.”

Mrs Scott-Lang added that she was very grateful to Laugh ‘n’ Craft and groups like it for what they do. “We rely on them,” she said. “It’s their own money, their own time.”

Linda McQueen, of Laugh ‘n’ Craft, said the group was delighted to help Project Linus UK.

“It is ideal for us to pass on what we make,” she added.

To find out more about Project Linus UK visit www.projectlinusuk. org.uk.

We distribute quilts and blankets for distressed children in hospital Marion Scott-Lang