Crafters are being called on to knit 66,000 tiny woolly hats for smoothie bottles. Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove (WSBH), in partnership with Innocent drinks, has launched the Big Knit campaign for another year, calling on knitters and crocheters in the area to help make a difference to the lives of older people. The campaign, which has been running since 2003, has raised £3.
2 million for Age UK. For every smoothie with a hat sold, Age UK receives 30p, helping to provide support to older people both nationally and locally. The 2024-25 campaign aims to knit 1.
4 million little hats and the smoothies will hit the shelves in October 2025. 30p from every smoothie with a hat will go to Age UK (Image: Smoothie) Jean from Rustington, who receives Help at Home from Age UK WSBH, is taking part in The Big Knit. She finds joy in knitting little hats and said it "keeps her going”.
Helen Rice, chief executive at Age UK WSBH, said: “We’re calling on people in West Sussex , Brighton and Hove to dust off their knitting needles and help us make this the best Big Knit yet. "We have a huge target of 66,000 hats this year, with the aim of raising around £20,000. The little hats make a big difference, so please get involved” Crafters have until July 1, 2025, to send in their hats and can send their finished creations to any of the Age UK centres in Bognor, Horsham, Brighton , Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill.
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