Close-knit team spread care across world

WHAT began two-and-ahalf years ago as a wellbeing group funded by a one-off Lottery grant has grown into a finely knitted group of charity knitters with a worldwide influence.

The group of active residents at the RBH Ravendale Independent Living Scheme in Cutgate originally picked up their knitting needles and unspooled their balls of wool to pass the time as they worked on knitted knick-knacks for friends and family.

That all changed, however, when they had the idea to knit items to donate to needy causes.

Dedicated knitter and original member of the group Carol Busuttil said: “After the funding stopped we decided to each put £5 a month into a kitty and make things for people who needed them.

“We started with hats and scarves for Rochdale homeless and little hats for premature babies.”

Since then the group has widened their scope to include items for distribution by the local church.

More recently they added items for an orphanage in Sri Lanka and blankets for use in disaster zones.

Carol added: “It is very rewarding to help people in Rochdale and around the world.

“We get letters from the church, hospital and overseas that tell us how much our work is appreciated.”

The group is about to add yet another knitwear project to their output. Working with the Royal Oldham Hospital they will be making “traffic light” bobble hats.

These are plain white hats with either a green, amber or red bobble to let the nursing staff easily spot which of the new-born babies might need extra care and attention.