Brighter Futures Blanketeers: Calling all Knitters

Brighter Futures, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s charity, are setting up a volunteer knitting group that will knit or crochet blankets for patients receiving end of life treatment at the hospital.

They would like to welcome anyone who would like to knit or crochet these blankets to join the group. They are also looking for people to knit 15cm squares that can be sewn together to make the blanket.

If you can’t knit but would like to be involved by sewing the blankets together, then you are also very welcome to come along.

The first meeting is taking place on Thursday 30 January in Seminar Room 5, the Academy, at the Great Western Hospital. The meeting will start at 1:00pm and is expected to last up to 45 minutes.

Wool is available for knitters to use, but wool donations will happily be accepted to enable anyone to knit or crochet a blanket.

Volunteers make blankets for every patient on the end of life pathway at the hospital. The blankets bring a little colour and homeliness to the clinical environment, and staff will be encouraged to spray the blanket with the patient toiletries so that there is a comforting familiar smell to the individual. 

The blanket can also be offered to the bereaved next of kin to keep.

Brighter Futures and the End of Life Team at Great Western Hospital would love you to be involved and become a Brighter Futures Blanketeer. If you can’t make the first meeting then please visit https://www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk/support-us/knit-or-crochet-for-a-brighter-future/brighter-futures-blanketeers/ or email [email protected] for more information on how you can get involved.