Bid to keep OAPs warm in winter

4:20pm Wednesday 15th October 2008

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OLDER people in Wiltshire are set to benefit from extra warmth this winter thanks to the hard work of staff at Wiltshire County Council.

Every winter 25,000 older people die from cold-related illnesses, but for the last five years Innocent smoothies, with Age Concern, have run The Big Knit - a scheme where members of the public knit thousands of small woolley hats that sit on the smoothie bottles.

For every hat-wearing smoothie sold in Sainsbury’s during November, 50p is donated to Age Concern.

This year, employees at Wiltshire County Council’s social care help desk, with help from other colleagues and friends, have knitted almost 800 hats.

One of the social workers from Chippenham held a knitathon evening at her home where most of the team attended and either knitted, sewed up hats, made bobbles or just fed the knitters with tea, coffee and cake.

Those who could not knit have enlisted a friend or family members to do it for them.

Susan Denmark, senior social worker at the county council, said: "It has become multi-cultural event with contributions from as far away as Belgium, Australia and even hats received from a colleague at Bristol City Council.

“Lots of people have learnt to knit through this fundraising activity and many older people have thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the project."