Skip to content

Ready Steady Knit: the innocent Big Knit is back to craft a better future for older people

Published on 09 December 2024 03:25 PM

Emily Anderson - Head of Fundraising & Communications

The much-loved innocent Big Knit campaign is back for another yarn-spinning year, and Age UK East London, in partnership with the national Age UK charity and innocent drinks is calling on all knitters and crocheters in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham to join the fun and help make a big difference to the lives of older people, while being part of this famous campaign.

We’re calling East Londoners to dust off their knitting needles and help us make this the best year yet of our partnership with Innocent. Let’s cast on and knit up a storm to hit our 4,000 hat target.

If you’re aged 50 or older, why not join one of our knitting clubs?

  • Merchant Street Hub (Merchant Street Hub, Tower Hamlets Methodist Church, E3 4LY) hosts a knitting club on Wednesdays, 10am - 11:30am, £1.
  • Marie Lloyd Centre (329 Queensbridge Road, E8 3LA) hosts a knitting club on Fridays, 11am-12pm, free.

The funds raised will help your local Age UK East London charity continue to support more than 20,000 older East Londoners a year with vital information, advice, and friendship. The funds will also help this winter to provide safe, warm places for older people and their carers.

This Big Knit campaign ensures that Age UK East London, can be there for Maria* who found confidence in getting online with our digital support courses in Bow, and she is now saving money by using google to search for cheaper shopping deals online and connecting with old friends who had moved overseas with Whatsapp calls. These little hats truly make a big difference. 

*name changed for privacy 

Let’s get those needles clicking and create a real yarn to remember! Crafters have until 1st July 2025 to send in their hats, so there's plenty of time to get involved. 

There are exciting hat designs, including a cheeky monkey, fox cub, sheepish sheep and a unicorn, available to download now, but feel free to come up with designs of your own as we love seeing your creations! Just visit: www.thebigknit.co.uk/knittingpatterns 

For more information on The Big Knit contact Age UK East London on supporters@ageukeastlondon.org.uk or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/bigknit. Please send completed hats to Emily, Age UK East London, 82 Russia Lane, Tower Hamlets, E2 9LU