Since launching in October last year, Pioneering Care Partnership’s (PCP) Knitting Group has been weaving threads of warmth and kindness into the North East community. Founded by volunteer Sharon Rowley and Annette Allen, PCP Customer and Information Assistant, this talented group has combined their passion for craft with a heartfelt mission to support others and combat loneliness.
From blankets and dressing gowns to scarves and hats, the group initially was set up for people to come together and connect over a hobby of knitting and crotchet. However, the group has evolved to provide comfort and care to those who need it most during the colder months with a variety of knitted items.
To put the amount of work into scale, each dressing over 4,000 individual squares have been lovingly crafted in just one year to create over 40 dressing gowns, a true testament to the group’s dedication.
Over the past year, the group has created:
• Blankets for the Moses Project in Stockton on Tees, with over 40
squares per blanket.
• Over 50 hats and a variety of scarves.
• Knitted hearts for the Joining the Dots service, spreading comfort
and connection.
• Twiddle blankets for Young At Heart ULO, a group for people living
with dementia.
• Little stockings for Together 21, bringing festive cheer to children
with Down syndrome and their families
• Knitting wear for dolls for Christmas shoebox appeals.
Annette Allen, PCP Customer and Information Assistant, said: “To see the group go from a couple of members to 10 or more every week is fantastic to see. It brings a tear to my eye seeing the goals of the group become a reality when we get the pictures of people wearing the items we have created, it is creating a literal blanket of care covering the North East.”
The Knitting Group has become a hub for creativity, companionship, and giving back to the community, reflecting the values of PCP. Every stitch tells a story of care, and their collective efforts have touched countless lives.
The group meets at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe every Thursday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and welcomes new members, whether you’re an experienced knitter or just starting out.
To learn more about PCP’s Knitting Group or the projects they support, visit www.pcp.uk.net or call 01325 321234.