Well, Christmas has been and gone, all projects got finished, now into the new year.
Firstly I am helping organise a project for st mungos homeless charity.
Recently I’ve been feeling that I’d like to get involved in knitting for charity however haven’t found a huge selection in the UK and to be honest nothing I feel I can engage with, so I have been talking to a lovely guy at St. Mungos, and going to get a project together with him.
About St Mungo’s
St Mungo’s opens doors for homeless people. Mainly based in London and the South, we provide over 100 accommodation and support projects day in, day out.
St Mungo’s creates more opportunities for homeless people to get permanent new homes and to find meaningful activities, learning and employment than any other charity. Our work focuses on three main areas:
•Providing emergency services. These include emergency shelters and hostels, and outreach teams who work on the streets with people sleeping rough. We support homeless people in real and urgent need, and last year helped thousands off the streets into accommodation. Of course, this emergency work is fundamental - but it is only the first step.
•Supporting homeless people in their recovery. We help people tackle the problems that have led to their homelessness by opening the door to drug and alcohol treatment, and providing access to decent physical and mental health care - as well as finding routes to employment and enjoyable relationships. Our semi-independent housing projects mean nearly 700 people are gaining confidence every day in their independent living skills.
•Preventing homelessness. This is a vital part of our work. Many people at risk of homelessness have damaged and chaotic lives, and may come from difficult backgrounds. Our support teams work with vulnerable people - from former rough sleepers in their new homes, to ex-offenders with mental health problems, to street beggars - to make positive changes in their lives. We also offer high support housing to nearly 400 men and women who could so easily end up sleeping rough, ensuring they have a safe and supportive place from which to go forward.
•We try to make our projects responsive to the changing needs of today’s homeless and vulnerable people. For example, recent innovations include: accommodation for vulnerable women fleeing from abuse in crack houses; support for people who have a dual diagnosis (combined drug and mental health problems); and work with ‘career beggars’.
One of the big things that really stands out for me is the fact they allow dogs to stay at their facility, one of the only places to do this. As we all have seen many homeless
Their website is www.mungos.org
Having spoken to Adam he would be delighted to receive items to either pass out to people, or you can knit for somebody specific, This is the last email I had, and will keep you updated as things progress:
Its very generous of you and your colleagues to offer this. I am meeting with my managers today and we will discuss this project and come back to you with specifics. There are a number of areas to look at. My teams all work with people on the streets and therefore it is useful to have a store of hats, gloves, scarves to give to those in greatest need. We also have a number of long term clients that individual gifts could be commissioned for (particularly older ladies and men who remain on the streets…and have been for many years). St Mungo’s also has many hostels where clients live (approx. 1000) and we could target specific groups within these or specific hostels. The idea of toys for women with children is also an excellent one. About 10% of our clients are women. Many have children who they are estranged from, or are in care but some visit or have access to them and gifts of this kind appropriately selected would be excellent. We also have one mother and baby unit.
At this time of year, items that are particularly appreciated are a hat, gloves, Mittens, neck warmers, scarfs, socks, vests, anything warm really. Most of their homeless are male but as you can see from the email children's items, women's items and toys are still welcome.
Will keep you all updated as I can but wanted you all to know as soon as possible.
In addition to this I am also talking to a couple of stores about donating items for a draw. Basically everybody who donates something will go into a draw to win prizes such as yarn, needles, vouchers, and whatever else I can scrounge out of people.
So get knitting.
Secondly is the story of the sofa. The Sofas we have are really bad for my back. I hate them. I want a new one, but the one i want is a LOT of money so a LONG way off, however I found a cream 4 seater on freecycle, a website that offers all sorts of unwanted items for free to a good home, everything you can imagine is on there. Anyway we picked up a sofa at 11 yesterday. Being silly I thought, hour, two max to get it in and sorted out, then go to iknit for the Help for Haiti tea party. Well we got the sofa into the hallway, and after an hour of to froing, twisting, angling, pushing. We admitted defeat. It wasn’t going in the front room. However it did fit in the bedroom as that was straight ahead off the hallway. Soooo…. Our bedroom is now our front room and our front room is now our bedroom. Which meant beds had to be moved, wardrobes, drawers, electricals, then sorting it all out, We have literally, at 11pm tonight finished sorting it all out, so a mad weekend.
On the knitting front, I have made 2 hats for St Mungos (It is my baby after all) also started on a summery cap sleeve, loose fitting lace top in the cotton i mentioned in my last post. going to take a while, but will be awesome when it's finished. Will post a picture when i have one. Also having one final bash at socks. Chosen
Spring Cable as it is quite plain but with enough going on to keep me interested. Mot sure how it will go. But not fretting about it.
Right well i gotta run as it's late and i got work tomorrow so...
TTFN
