Have a heart
Nothing gets us knitting like a call for help. These friends used their hobby to make a difference to kids’ lives.
W e know you love to knit for charity, and there are some great causes to knit for, but have you ever thought of launching a campaign? Ruth Morris and Belinda Harris-Reid did just that when they discovered the charity Kids Company (www.kidsco.org.uk).
We’ve long admired the verve, determination and enthusiasm that make Ruth and Belinda so inspiring, and it seems that the indomitable founder and director of Kids Company, Camila Batmanghelidjh, recognised a pair of kindred spirits.
Ruth and Belinda read newspaper and magazine articles that Camila had written, and were sure that this was a charity they wanted to help.
“Camila has a very direct, yet lyrical way of persuasion,” says Ruth. “Belinda and I have seven children between us, and feel very strongly that bringing them up is the most important thing we have done, so hearing someone who declares that right for thousands of children who are not her own was an instant call to arms – and needles!”
Ruth and Belinda were invited to talk with Camila about their idea of promoting Kids Company, providing the charity’s young clients with some solace, while encourage the British public to get knitting.
“Something about our emails and promises of hundreds and thousands of fantastic knitters out there wanting to make a difference must have caught her interest,” Ruth comments. “We spoke at length about the neglect and abuse that children in the UK suffer. The dark and very disturbing life that some small people have no choice but to live is unacceptable.”
Kids Company is an extraordinary venture that offers a safe space for children who have sadly faced unimaginable cruelty, often at the hands of the people whose role it should be to protect them.
“Ruth and I decided that we wanted to do something good, something useful, something extraordinary to help these young people,” says Belinda.
After lots of discussion, Ruth and Belinda defined that what they wanted to do was help these young people realise that they are not alone in the world, and show them that this world doesn’t need to be as bleak as they’d been led to believe prior to discovering the care of Kids Company.
A CONSERVATORY FILLED TO BURSTING WITH KNITS …
Naming the movement ‘Heartsease’ after a wild flower, Belinda says that “it started as an idea, and became a story of love, care and imagination.”
Ruth and Belinda each devised a pattern for a heart-shaped bag to be given to the youngsters using the Kids Company charity’s services.
“We came up with the basic bag patterns, but now people have customised them and made them their own!” says Ruth.
It was obvious, though, that some boys, especially older ones, might
not respond so readily to heartshaped bags, however thoughtfully made. “One kind person suggested footballs instead, and so far they are just as good at holding the thoughts and wishes as hearts, especially when they’re made in club colours!”
They also accept crocheted and stitched heart bags and balls. The aim is to use them in therapy sessions, during which the children are presented with a large box of handmade items and invited to choose one to keep. The bags also contain small treasures such as hair-clips, yo-yos and toy cars.
“The best are the ones with glitter and shiny things,” says Ruth. “People have written messages to reach an unknown reader, simple and heartfelt. We hope that it will make a difference to each child who takes one – knowing that it has been made with them in mind.”
Ruth and Belinda immediately began spreading the word through the knitting press, social media, and at the four big craft ICHF shows in 2013. They were overwhelmed by the response. “It’s handy that Belinda has such a big conservatory,” Ruth laughs. “It is overflowing, fit to burst with the accumulated hours of effort from thousands of knitters, crocheters and sewers.”
A HEARTFELT CALL FOR HELP
Ruth and Belinda have been deeply touched by the efforts of everyone who has supplied a bag or ball.
“We are humbled at everyone’s kindness and generosity – we know that knitting, crocheting and sewing take time and there must have been hundreds, if not thousands, of hours spent making these contributions,” enthuses Ruth.
“We have nearly 4,000 heart bags now and a few more are being delivered every single day – but we need to receive at least 6,000 by 14 February 2014. We will be taking all the hearts and balls to Camila and her company on Valentine’s Day, probably with a cohort of knitters to send them off to their new home. Hopefully we can set up a meeting, knit-in or sharing event on the day.”
If you have been inspired by Ruth and Belinda’s story, there is still some time to join in yourself – you could even get your knitting group involved! The basic patterns are available to download at www. ruthandbelinda.co.uk/heartsease.html. Or, if you already have a bag pattern that you like, you could make and donate that, instead.
Take a peek at their Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/IP8vsL to see all of the fantastic items they have already received.
While the main aim has been to aid the children of Kids Company, Ruth and Belinda have also enjoyed spreading a love of knitting. “We’ve been hosting knitting sessions at the ICHF shows across the UK, with the latest one in Exeter last September,” says Ruth. “It has been a blast being at all of the shows, getting people excited about knitting for Heartsease!”