Our RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social, make new friends, and meet people in their community they can rely on. It is also a good opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and to be able to give back to their community. Knitting groups create an array of knitted materials from items for premature babies to twiddle-muffs for people with dementia. These goods are given out locally and even internationally.
Our RSVP knitting groups are growing increasingly popular, with over 5,000 social action knitters across the UK producing in excess of 50 big bin-bags worth of knitted goods per month.
With the number of older people living alone in rural areas growing, or with families who have moved away, or who just don’t want to feel like a burden to family and friends, finding a community group of like-minded people can be difficult.
The benefits of knitting are huge, in a study, published in the February 2013 issue of the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, revealed that the majority of knitters reported a significant relationship between knitting frequency and feeling calm and happy. Respondents who knit the most often said that knitting positively affected their cognitive functioning, helping them to resolve problems or think more easily
Volunteer knitters attend their local knitting groups where they can purchase low cost wool and other decorative goods, and sit down for a knit and a natter. Some groups even provide transport for knitters who may not be able to get around so easily.
If you’re interested in volunteering then please see the available opportunities below. If you can’t find an opportunity in your area and are interested in starting one up, then please get in touch.