Charity gains £500 to get knitting for kids

Sunday 05 April 2020

A charity that knits handmade blankets for children suffering either emotionally or physically and “need a hug” has been awarded £500 to buy material.

Project Linus is one of 13 local good causes to benefit from the CI Co-op’s longest running fund, the Helping Hands Fund.

Launched over 20 years ago, the Helping Hands Fund has donated over £300,000 to worthwhile causes across the Channel Islands.

This year, the Society received over 100 applications from across the Channel Islands and donated more than £8,900 to local charities and organisations.

Pictured: Project Linus knits handmade blankets for children who suffering either emotionally or physically.

The funding is awarded to good causes which promote social inclusion and diversity, health and wellbeing, support the elderly or vulnerable groups, help local producers or projects which protect the local environment.

Project Linus was awarded £500 to buy materials needed to knit, crochet and sew handmade blankets for children.

The blankets will be donated to schools, individuals, children’s homes as well as Robin Ward for children who are seriously ill, bereaved or traumatised.

Pictured: Some of the thank yous letters received by Project Linus.

“We will use the money from the Helping Hands fund to buy materials for our volunteers, as we support several charities and agencies who have a real need for our blankets and we want to help our volunteers purchase the materials they need,” Sarah Jordan, from Project Linus, said.

“We not only help those children who the blankets are donated to, but our volunteers also benefit hugely from this project. Those who knit the blankets can often find themselves alone, or feeling less able than in previous years, and they are given a real sense of purpose when they can make something for a child in need.

“Donation, such as that from the Co-op, are vital in keeping the charity going.”

The Grace Trust’s Park Life choir, which was founded to support islanders who are alcohol dependent, also received funding, as did the Jersey Brain Tumour Association, which will use the funds to provide family days for those who have a child or parent living with a brain tumour.

“We are delighted to have been donating money to local charities and organisations across the Channel Islands through our Helping Hands fund for so many years,” Mark Cox, acting chief executive officer for the Society.

He continued: “Every year we receive so many applications and it is always so hard to choose the successful projects.

"We hope the money donated this year will help a number of good causes in Jersey go on to make a real difference to the community. We are proud that the Helping Hands fund enables so many small groups to continue the vital work they do within our local communities.”

Meanwhile, a total of £8,900 was also donated to 11 good causes in Guernsey, including Bowel Cancer Guernsey, Le Platon Residential Home and Paws for Support.