Plymouth knitters are the group that keeps on giving - The Box, Plymouth

By: Jo Clarke
Added: 11 December 2017

A group of women who regularly get together to practice their knitting and crochet are continuing their generous ways by producing teddies for a really unique charity.

Despite the fact that its building is currently closed for the development of The Box, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery’s Traditional Craft Group continues to meet each week to improve skills and share ideas.

The women often produce work for charities. Their most recent project has seen them create knitted teddies for Mercy Ships - the world’s largest floating hospital.

Around two thirds of the world’s population are unable to get safe affordable surgery when they need it, turning treatable illnesses into life-threatening conditions. Mercy Ships, which is almost entirely staffed by volunteers, provides free and vital medical care to some of our poorest countries and has five state-of-the art operating theatres.

Thanks to the Traditional Craft Group, 75 children who have an operation on board the ship over the next few weeks will be given a teddy.

“The group really enjoy their sessions, which are open to novices as well as experienced knitters,” said Mark Tosdevin, programmes manager for Plymouth Museums Galleries Archives. “It’s great that they regularly give back - not just to local communities but also to charities much further afield.”

Over the last few months the group has produced knitted goods for Trevi House and Derriford Hospital, hats for the soup kitchen, local homeless people and a Sikh temple in Bristol.

They’ve also made knitted squares for the mums and babies in the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, twiddle muffs and blankets for Mount Gould Hospital’s Dementia Unit and raffle prizes for local cancer charities and shoebox appeals.

Charities supporting refugees in Greece, Romania and Albania have also received items from them.

If you’re interested in getting involved, the group meets at Plymouth Guildhall from 10am to 12pm each Friday. There’s no need to book and just a £1 donation to pay per session.

Find out more about the events and activities the Museum is running while construction work for The Box is underway from the what’s on section of www.plymhearts.org

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Notes to editors:
For more information, interview or photograph opportunities please contact Jo Clarke, Marketing and Communications Officer on jo.clarke@plymouth.gov.uk