Become a rainbow friend

Be a good friend to a friend!

I’ve written lots about different charities that you can become a friend of and what you can do to support them and I’ve even written about being a good friend to yourself, but this month I’ve decided to focus on what makes a good friend. What can we do to support those we consider our friends and help them feel happier. Whilst doing some research, I found there was a lot more to it than I originally thought!

I don’t have many friends but those that I do have I value greatly.  And I hope in return that I am a good friend to them. Sometimes I feel totally inadequate and that I am just taking from them rather than giving back, but then life is like that sometimes. Some days we need that support, some days we can give that support, but I do want to be thought of as a good friend: somebody who is there when needed, can offer encouragement or support, can brighten a day or can be fun to be with. So I looked up what makes a good friend and some of the comments I found were rather interesting.

The internet told me that a good friend is someone who enriches your life by offering unwavering support, honest communication and mutual respect.  They bring out the best in you through their actions. A good friend is trustworthy – someone you can share your secrets with knowing that they will not repeat them to anyone else. They will be loyal to you, sticking up for you when needed, offering support but also telling you when you are out of line or not acting in the best way.  They will offer constructive truthful feedback when asked instead of saying what you want to hear - telling you if you are misinformed or incorrect in some of your assumptions if needs be. We might not want to hear the truth, but a true friend will point it out anyway knowing that you won’t fall out about it and can still remain friends.

A good friend always has your best interests at heart and can put themselves in your shoes when you are having tough times, showing both empathy and understanding. A good friend accepts you for who you are, warts and all. They don’t try to change you or control you and can accept that you have very different opinions without falling out. They respect those opinions, beliefs and boundaries even if they do not agree with them, as part of who you are. They offer positivity and encouragement especially when you are doubting your own abilities or struggling with self-belief and they understand and forgive you quickly when you make stupid mistakes or act out of character, willing to work through issues rather than hold grudges.

Over the years, I have had many different kinds of friendships, mostly ones that disappear after a few years as we have moved around so much. But those few true friendships I have are very important to me. These are the friendships that are balanced, as in my friends invest as much in the friendship as I do, they are not one sided. And these friendships take time to build and effort to create.

Good friendships don’t just happen by accident, they take time and considerable effort.  So what can you do to be a good friend and to return the generosity of time and understanding that some of your friends have shown to you?

Be reliable and consistent.  If you arrange to meet or speak then make sure you turn up! You’d be surprised how many times I have been let down at short notice after plans have been made. Make sure that you are someone they can depend on for fun times but also for supportive times.

Be supportive and help your friends through difficult dilemmas but remember you don’t have to be able to ‘fix’ every problem. You can offer suggestions but mostly, just being there is all that is needed.

Be an active listener.  Pay close attention to what is being said to you. Be interested and enthusiastic. Focus on understanding their perspective without butting in, interrupting their flow or making assumptions. Really listen and often this is all that is needed. They don’t want to be ‘fixed’ they just want to be able to speak and to be heard.

Show up in the tough times and offer a helping hand. Be specific rather than saying ‘call me is you need anything,’ actually offer a specific kind of help or just offer to be there if they need someone.

Celebrate the good times.  Rejoice in their achievements, praise them, encourage them and share good news with each other. That is just as important as being there for the difficult times. Encourage them to be proud of their achievements, however small, and to celebrate too!

Respect their boundaries. Everybody needs space, time and privacy.  Accept that there may be limits or times when they don’t want your company and accept it without taking it personally. When they are ready they will let you know.

Always be kind. Even if you are not happy with something they have said or done, it can be pointed out in a kind, rather than accusatory manner. Don’t be scared to tell the truth even if it is not what they want to hear. In time, they will respect you for being truthful and know that it was needed. Just be gentle and thoughtful in your approach. It is possible to guide each other with honest opinions without falling out!

Invest in your friend. Don’t be the one that sits back and allows them to do all the planning and organising. Put in the same amount of effort and it will be appreciated and lead to a more rewarding friendship.

And remember that not everyone is going to be your best friend. Sometimes friendships are there for a short period of time, sometimes longer. They may fizzle out or they may strengthen and grow. If you find you are having to work too hard to be a good friend, then perhaps that friendship is not the right one for you. It might be worth cutting your losses and moving on.

It’s not easy making new friends but it is worth it. By demonstrating what you think is a good friend, you are more than likely going to meet someone who feels the same way and who will want to be as good a friend to you as you are to them.

And it is never too late to make a new friend, so give it a go.  Be courageous, start talking to new people you come across, use the skills listed above and you might just find that you have a brand new bestie to have fun times with.  Best of luck!

Support the heart to heart knitting campaign and knit some hearts for your local hospital

I’m back with another project for all the knitters out there! My WI has just had a request for pairs of matching knitted hearts to be donated to the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for those in need of critical care.  A previous campaign ran in 2023 and raised an amazing response with hundreds of lovingly knitted hearts donated.

The hearts are used by many charities and NHS Trusts for their ‘Heart to Heart’ or ‘Kindness’ campaigns providing a connection between a patient and their loved one. One heart is given to the patient undergoing treatment or end of life care, the other to the family, providing a tangible connection to their loved one. These hearts can bring huge comfort to both parties involved providing a long term tactile reminder of lost family members.

York and Scarborough teaching hospitals are now in desperate need for more and have put out a plea to knitters in the area. Many hospices and hospital wards will accept them, but please do check first before sending them your efforts. A simple google search should give you lots of ideas of those who are happy to accept them and where they can be delivered to.

The hearts are standard double knit and are a small object which can make a huge difference, bringing much needed comfort to those who are struggling. A pattern is shown below and seems to be one used in most areas. 

These tokens of comfort can be placed in the hands of a dying relative, slipped under a pillow or stitched inside a teddy bear -  just a few suggestions of how they are used and they symbolise that the hearts of those involved are always together.

When you have found a suitable donation point, do check the safety and packaging details for that place. Some ask for all donations to be packaged in sealed bags and dated. These are then quarantined until needed.

This is a great way to use up all those left over ends of yarn balls in a wonderful gesture to help provide comfort for others, so pick up those needles and get started!

The Pattern

❤︎ Introduction: Each heart is knitted in stockinette and made from one piece, stuffed, and seamed up the back to make a puffy heart.

 ❤︎ Work flat: The heart is knitted flat (back and forth) on a pair of straight single pointed knitting needles, not in the round.

 ❤︎ Casting on: Use the long tail cast on for this pattern.

 ❤︎ Pull through to cast off: Cut the yarn leaving at least a 30 cm tail. Thread the tail onto a darning needle and sew through the remaining sts on the knitting needle. Pull the sts off the knitting needle on to the yarn, gather together tightly and secure the yarn.

 ❤︎ One size: The finished heart is approximately 6.5 cm high and 6.5 cm wide.

 ❤︎ Tension: 22 sts x 28 rows for a 10 cm x 10 cm square in stockinette stitch on 3.75 mm needles. Don’t worry about tension for this pattern, it is not critical.

COPYRIGHT © 2016 AMANDA BERRY This free pattern is for personal use only; NOT for resale All patterns designed by Amanda Berry are protected by international copyright laws. Any unauthorised copying, sharing or reselling will constitute an infringement of copyright. All rights reserved. I encourage and permit the sharing of this pattern to raise funds for good causes and charities; however reselling this pattern is not permitted.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS ❤︎ A pair of 3.75 mm (US 5) single pointed needles, minimum length 20 cm

❤︎ A darning or tapestry needle for seaming

 ❤︎ A handful of toy filling or cotton wool balls to stuff

❤︎ A stitch holder

KNITTING PATTERN Make 1 per heart. Cast on 6 sts on 3.75 mm needles. Start at the bottom tip. Row 1 and all following WS rows before row 16: Purl.

Row 2 (RS): [K1, m1] twice, k2, [m1, k1] twice. (10 sts)

Row 4: K2, [m1, k1] twice, k3, [m1, k1] twice, k1. (14 sts)

 Row 6: K3, [m1, k1] twice, k5, [m1, k1] twice, k2. (18 sts)

Row 8: K4, [m1, k1] twice, k7, [m1, k1] twice, k3. (22 sts)

Row 10: K5, [m1, k1] twice, k9, [m1, k1] twice, k4. (26 sts)

Row 12: K6, [m1, k1] twice, k11, [m1, k1] twice, k5. (30 sts)

Row 14: K7, [m1, k1] twice, k13, [m1, k1] twice, k6. (34 sts)

 Row 16: Knit. The bottom section of the heart is now complete. Now work the first “bump” at the top.

Row 17: P17, do not break the working yarn, and transfer the last 17 sts from your knitting needle onto a stitch holder to hold them to work later for the second “bump”. (17 sts)

From row 18, work the 17 sts on your knitting needle for the first “bump” with the working yarn.

 Row 18: Knit.

Row 19: Purl.

 Row 20: [k1, k2tog, k3, ssk] twice, k1. (13 sts)

Row 21: Purl.

 Row 22: [k1, k2tog, k1, ssk] twice, k1. (9 sts) Pull through to cast off. The first “bump” is complete.

Now work the second “bump”. Transfer the held 17 sts from the stitch holder onto your knitting needle with the WS facing you ready to purl, and rejoin the working yarn for row 1. Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Row 2 (RS): Knit.

 Row 3: Purl.

 Row 4: [k1, k2tog, k3, ssk] twice, k1. (13 sts)

Row 5: Purl.

 Row 6: [k1, k2tog, k1, ssk] twice, k1. (9 sts) Pull through to cast off.

Making up: Use mattress stitch for seaming. Sew the side edges of the first heart “bump” together from the gathered cast off sts down to row 17, and repeat with the second “bump”. You should have two finished bumps at the top of your heart. Add some stuffing, and then sew the side edges of the bottom of the heart together (rows 17 down to row 1). This seam runs down the centre back of the heart. Finish by gathering the cast on sts together at the bottom tip of the heart. ❤︎ ❤︎

Support your local Baby Bank

www.babybankalliance.org.

It is a sad fact that food banks and baby banks have become an essential lifeline to many families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, emotional hardship or a change in living circumstances. There are apparently over 4 million children currently living in poverty in the UK which is a shocking statistic and without the support of Baby Banks throughout the country, many families would be facing the horrific dilemma of whether to heat their home or buy new shoes for their child.

We all want to give our babies the best start in life, ensuring they are healthy, safe, warm, well fed and well clothed. For many of us, having children is a financial struggle but we are able to make alterations to our lifestyle, do without luxuries and budget to ensure that we can provide adequate care for our children. Other people are not so lucky through no fault of their own. A single parent unable to work, a health condition, living in poor rental accommodation, being evicted, becoming a refugee and so on are just some of the reasons people may not be able to buy everything that their baby needs. Baby Banks should not have to exist but in reality, they are a vital lifeline to struggling families. They are non-judgemental – their aim is to offer any help that is needed, wherever it is needed.

Baby Banks are community-based organisations that collect and distribute pre loved and new items to deliver to local families in need and ensure that every child has access to the basics. This can include clothing, nappies, wipes, toiletries, bedding, blankets, moses baskets, pushchairs, feeding items, toys, buggies and so on. These are then distributed to families in need, free of charge. The Banks help bridge the financial gap, making a massive difference to families dealing with stress and anxiety brought about by financial hardship and are also an efficient way to promote sustainable living, using items that might normally go to landfill.

There are over 400 baby banks across the UK. To find out the nearest one to you check out www.babybankalliance.org. Here you can enter your postcode and it will show all those in the nearby vicinity. The Alliance is working hard to unite all baby banks across the country and raise awareness of the work that they do. They are continuously campaigning for change, building connections to grow stronger communities and boosting the national profile of the baby banks and how they are reducing the impact of child poverty alongside normalising the re use of preloved goods. If you run a baby bank you can contact them and become a member free of charge.

All baby banks work differently so it is best to check out individual websites for further information, whether you are donating or reaching out for help. If you are wishing to donate items (how many of us have retained baby equipment just in case?) ensure that everything is clean and in good condition with no rips, tears or faults. Contact your local baby bank or check online to see what they are in need of and to book a drop off time. Some websites will show a wish list of items that they are desperately short of. Many have limited storage space so might not be able to take everything you wish to donate and some items such as car seats and mattresses, they are not permitted to accept. Most sites do not allow walk ins so please check before you visit.

If you have no items to donate you can help by spreading the word, fundraising or volunteering for the baby bank in your area, highlighting the work they are doing and why.

If you are in need of support then please do contact your local baby bank. No one should feel that they cannot reach out for help. Some may ask for a referral from a care professional such as a midwife or health visitor, but many allow you to self-refer. You will be treated with care and respect and hopefully will be able to access the equipment and support that you need.

Alternatively, you could donate food jars/packets and baby toiletries to your nearest food bank collection point or a women’s refuge.

Children are our future and deserve the best start in life whatever the circumstances in which they are born. No grand gestures are needed but an extra item on the shopping list soon mounts up and can be donated to help support a child who is perhaps not as lucky as yours.

Be a friend to … the insects in your garden.

I’ve a different cause for you this month – very simple, cheap, healthy and fun for you and vitally important to some of the visitors to our gardens over the coming months.

I am not an insect fan and that is putting it mildly. I love butterflies and ladybirds, less so bees, wasps and various itchy bity little critters! Until recent years I would run a mile from a crane fly (daddy long legs), beetle, worm or slug and I’m still very wary of spiders and refuse to pick them up but I am getting better and I do now recognise that they are important to our eco system.

Figures suggest that 41% of our insect population is facing extinction. Good you may say (like I would have done!) but these little creatures are incredibly important to our very existence, pollinating our food crops, providing food for other wildlife and disposing of waste. But to carry on their good work, they urgently need our help as their rate of decline is alarming.

The wildlife trust has a fabulous Action for Insects Guide that can be downloaded from www.wildlifetrusts.org, full of useful information on what you can do, plants to buy throughout the year and lots of other tips on making your garden a haven for insect and wild life.

The ultimate aim is to prove a welcoming, pesticide free habitat to attract a wide selection of insects and wildlife such as hedgehogs to our gardens. This does not necessarily mean spending lots of money, though buying a selection of native plants can enhance things brilliantly. There are many things you can do that are free, simple and just plain fun! Firstly avoiding the use of any chemicals is a great start to providing that natural enticing environment and ensuring that insects are not killed off with the weeds etc that you are trying to get rid of. If you can afford to, plant native flowers that will blossom at different points in the year so that whatever month it is, something will be in flower, leaf or fruit and if you can, add something night scented such as honeysuckle.

Leaving areas of the lawn unmown and uncultivated will be very useful to a number of insects in providing shelter as do piles of old leaves or deadwood. Our natural instinct is to pick it all up and put it in our garden waste bin, but dead wood provides beetles and insects with natural breeding areas and the leaves provide shelter for hedgehogs, ladybirds and so on. Creating a wild corner will also provide refuge and overwintering sites for a multitude of creatures. Messy areas with long grass, piles of leaves, twigs and stones provide shelter for different creatures and bug hotels (bought or made from hollow stems or bamboo canes – great to do with children) are havens for solitary bees.

A shallow water source is essential for all insects and can be made from a birdbath filled with pebbles or home made using old containers, dishes or plant pot trays, but remember to check and refill them regularly! Another area often forgotten or not considered is outdoor lighting. This was new information to me! Many gardens have a multitude of garden lights – strung on hedges and bushes, wrapped around buildings or trees and planted along pathways etc. Although pretty to sit out and look at, these disorientate many creatures and prevent them from breeding. Make sure to use lights that can be switched off when not needed and leave dark areas/corners when setting your lights out, so that there are safe places for insects to hide. Motion sensors or timers on essential or security lighting helps to ensure that your garden is not lit up constantly. Solar lighting is often the best as it produces a soft glow but if you are buying a different kind, select low intensity lights in a warm white, yellow or amber.

The great thing about creating a beautiful insect friendly garden is that you will always have something to look at when you are sitting outside as more and more insects will be attracted to your outdoor space.  But even better, leaving some areas to develop naturally means less work for you!!

Protect our insects. Encourage them to  your garden and we should all reap the benefits.

Shoe Aid

Beech Avenue

New Basford

Nottingham

NG7 7LS

www.shoeaid.co.uk

Tel: 07511 983508

How many of us have got shoes and trainers lurking at the bottom of cupboards that we no longer use? We’ve outgrown them or find them uncomfortable or just don’t need them anymore.  Shockingly more than 2 million shoes are thrown away each week, many of them being sent to landfill. Since it takes over 1000 years for a single pair to biodegrade, this is a huge problem that is getting worse.

Shoe Aid are a charity that is trying to educate people on the importance of recycling and repurposing footwear that we no longer need.  Maybe you are somebody who donates to charity shops, puts them into charity bags or passes them on to friends and families and that is great, but many don’t. There are thousands of homeless people or on low income, currently wearing shoes that are not fit for purpose. They may be taped up, stuffed with paper or just generally falling apart. Having a repurposed pair of shoes can make such a difference not just in comfort (keeping feet warm, dry and protected) but in enabling people to attend school, start a new job or participate in sports. There are many people who are unable to access sporting or outdoor activities because they have no means to buy the necessary footwear needed and overseas, many children are being denied an education because shoes are a part of the uniform required.

Many of the shoes sent to landfill are completely wearable. They can be recycled, repurposed and used to combat footwear poverty in the UK and across the world. Shoe Aid aim to provide anyone in need with free footwear and ensure that no child or adult is deprived of shoes.

Shoe Aid donate to 15 countries world-wide. They are donated to disadvantaged families, charities and community groups, the homeless and the displaced.  Anyone in need can request help by e mailing request@shoeaid.co.uk stating the type of shoe needed, the gender and size. The depot is open on Tues, Wed and Fri for phone calls. It is a not for profit organisation funded through grants and charitable donations and any help is gratefully received. In the last couple of years, Shoe Aid have donated 200,000 pairs of shoes and saved over 100 tonnes of waste. And it isn’t just shoes – Shoe Aid have provided trainers, football boots, walking shoes, wellingtons, safety footwear, functional shoes, school shoes, slippers, flip flops and so on – any kind of footwear you can imagine.

You can help in a variety of ways:  by making a donation that will go towards covering the cost of distribution to those in need. (Donations can be made via their PayPal account.) You could organise a collection of unused shoes and donate them to the charity. A label can be downloaded for you to post your donations if there is not a collection point near you.  Details can be found on the website alongside a list of stores/shoe bin locations for you to access. If you are collecting shoes please make sure that they are fit for purpose with no holes or tears and fasten them together by the laces or with an elastic band.

Charity shops are more than happy to receive decent clean shoes in good wearable condition but even damaged shoes and trainers can be reused. Some councils have shoe banks and worn-out shoes are recycled and used in creating playground surfaces. Again, tie shoes together by the laces or secure with an elastic band.

Some shoe brands will also recycle your old footwear so it is worth asking. Clarks sometimes have shoe share boxes in their shops to support UNICEF, Nike recycle theirs into Nike Grind materials and Schuh sometimes offer a discount on a new pair of shoes if you donate old ones. Just ask at your local branch.

On my last clear-out I found a number of pairs of shoes that I no longer wear. High heels, wellies, trainers and so on and it is great to know that these can be used rather than just thrown away.  So why not have a sort through your own shoe collection? Gather up all those you no longer want, fasten them together and support this fabulous charity.  Not only will you be helping the environment, you may end up improving someone’s quality of life ten fold. Through your donation, a child may be able to go to school, an adult may be more confident heading towards a job interview, someone suffering with their mental health may be able to join a sports group or activity and those caught up in disasters around the world will have something to protect their feet. Your donation could make all the difference.

Sort your shoes and STEP UP to support Shoe Aid.

Be a friend and support your local library 

As a child, one of my greatest treats was to go to the local library. Although a rather quiet and austere place, I was mesmerised by the shelves of books and took great delight in selecting the 3 or 4 that I was allowed to take home. Even better was when the mobile library visited the housing estate where I lived. Here I was able to go on my own – trusted to walk down the road, enter the van and choose the books that I wanted. It came once a fortnight and was something I eagerly looked forward to.

When my children were little, a holiday treat was to go the library. Here we would spend an hour reading a few books and then selecting some to bring home – by now they were allowed to borrow 6 at a time. With 3 children, that was a lot of books to carry but I didn’t mind. In the summer we always completed the summer holiday reading challenge – reading at least 6 books (one per week), reporting back, getting stickers and being presented with a medal at the end. They loved it.

But since they have grown up, I’ve rarely entered the library even though it is only a couple of villages away. That is sad as I know how lucky we are to have a little library so close by. Shockingly, British libraries are in decline with over 180 council run facilities being closed since 2016, roughly 40 each year. It is a dreadful statistic. Many more have had their hours significantly reduced or are run entirely by volunteers who recognise the importance of this community building and are determined to keep it open.

And with a little bit of research into my own library, I can see now that these are not just places to borrow books – they provide so much more and can be a lifeline to many. Libraries are community focal points, places for local information, health education, a meeting place, space for group activities and offer many different and varied facilities. They are often the heart of the community offering a free service to local people.

Libraries remain free to join and books cost nothing to borrow! As my own book collection grows and takes up so much space, I can see the benefit of borrowing rather than buying quite clearly. But apart from a huge selection of books what else does a library offer? This will vary from town to town, so check out your local library online. But, ours provides story time sessions and a Buzzy Bee Honey Hunt for under 4s – a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to books and the benefits of reading, something which will hold them in good stead throughout their education. There are craft activities during the holidays as well as the summer reading challenge (apparently there is a challenge for adults as well!). A visit to the library can mean free access to newspapers, community and health information and an hours free use of the computers where I can use family history sites such as Ancestry and Find My Past. There is free WI Fi, a hot drink machine, audio books, DVDs (both of which have a small cost -  proceeds are used to help fund the library), I can scan, print and photocopy documents (for an extra cost), find information about local events, borrow a Well being book bag, join a Knit and Natter group and there is even a Home Library where I can get books delivered to my door if I am not able to access the library easily.

It is free, quick and easy to join the library either in person or online. I can borrow an incredible 30 items at a time for 3 weeks and this can be extended if they are not required by anybody else. A lot of the facilities are now self service which is quick and easy to use but the volunteers are there to help if this is a problem as well as offer advice and suggestions if required.

Volunteers are always welcome to keep a library running. This is a great way to find new friends, learn new skills, be part of a team offering a fabulous community service and meet people in your area. Most volunteers can be flexible in the day and time they can offer – just have a chat with the team at your library and they are likely to accommodate you very easily!

Government cuts, reduced council spending and the thought that libraries are no longer as important as they used to be are the reason that libraries are shutting at such an alarming rate, but if we all visited and used them a little more and stressed their importance for groups in our communities, we might be able to slow down this trend. Libraries offer so much, to so many and are an important community focal point for people to meet and make friends.

It might be that you could volunteer your time for a few hours each week. You may be able to offer a new group/club to support people in your community. You might love reading stories to young children or singing nursery rhymes.  If so, why not head along to your local library and see what you can offer or what they need to keep thriving in these difficult times.

Libraries are an important part of British life providing a service that no where else does. Let’s do our very best to keep them going.

Check out your local library when you are next in town. Pop in and be amazed at what there is on offer. Whether you are a newborn or 100+, your local library will have something suitable just for you!

Could you help a child learn to read?

It’s no secret that I am an avid reader and a book hoarder!  I’ve always been the same way. Even as a young child, I was determined to hear stories, look at books and then learn to read myself, and once I got going, there was no stopping me!

 I am of the era that learned to read with Janet and John books! Looking at them now you wonder how we were ever successful as they are tedious and repetitive. They are enough to put anyone off reading! Then as I got more proficient we went onto a fabulous reading scheme that I can sadly no longer remember the name of. There were titles that included words like moonlight and starlight, sparkles and magic and they were brilliant. The silver and gold series were favourites of mine – small hardback books with several different stories in them, if I remember correctly. The frustrating thing was that I couldn't change the books when I wanted to. We generally had silent reading time after lunch and being a proficient reader I whizzed through my books,  but,  until you had read every single page to the teacher, you were not permitted to get a new one! This used to drive me crazy as I was reading and re reading the same story over and over again.

As a primary school teacher, I soon realised that reading was the key to all learning. Those that learned to decode quickly were soon engrossed in all the different topic areas that we studied – researching, reading and writing all soon followed. It really did seem that the good readers, or those that learned to read early on, were destined to do well, so when I had my own children, I was keen to encourage them to read for themselves. Our house was full of books. I bought loads of them, read to my children every evening and encouraged them to use books to discover more  - pre internet days!

And according to the latest reports,  it seems these reading skills are sadly being lost. As children are more used to using the internet, computers, mobile phones, all day access to TV and so on, their need for entertainment is easily sorted. Whereas I would have chosen a book and sat and read quite happily, children now play computer games, watch TV or scroll through endless information on a mobile and as a result, standards in reading are subsequently dropping rapidly. More and more children are heading into secondary school with only rudimentary reading skills.

Schools now teach many different subjects and have a fairly strict schedule of what is to be taught and when, and it seems to me that reading has been left behind. For those children who do not crack the reading code quickly, other subjects become increasingly difficult – they slip further and further behind. And once they are behind, it is so much harder for them to catch up again. And because there is so much that has to be taught, the time a teacher has to listen to individual readers is much reduced, if done at all. Some have introduced group reading or whole class reading to save time,  but there is so much benefit from a child reading individually to an interested and helpful adult.

And this is where you come in.  Could you spare a few hours to volunteer at your local school and listen to children read? Could you fill the gap for teachers struggling to cram everything they have to into the school day and allow a child to have the benefit of your undivided attention for a few minutes? If so, then ring your local school and ask if they would have you. I am sure must would jump at the chance! When my children were little and I wasn’t working, I used to go in for a couple of hours each week. The children were thrilled to leave the room for a short time, have a little chat and then read aloud to me. I helped them sound out words, I wrote encouraging comments in their record booklets and helped them choose new books when they had finished. It was a really enjoyable and satisfying time for me and I think I got as much out of it as they did. I was able to share my love of books and hopefully encourage them to continue reading at home or try new authors or just tell me about a book they had. I was helping to foster a love of books and a love of reading.

Every school does things differently, but as far as I know, most are happy to have volunteers and will guide you through what they expect so that you are not thrown in blind. And as a voluntary helper, you suddenly become a much loved and much needed member of the school team, as without volunteers many schools would not be able to do a lot of the things they do.

So if you are looking for something new, something that will benefit others, keep you occupied and give you a sense of satisfaction, think about becoming a listener, a friend to the children and a promoter of the love of reading. Years down the line, you will be remembered by those children and talked about as the person who gave inspiration, motivation and encouragement. You might have begun their lifelong love of books or even created a potential future writer!  Now wouldn’t that be a wonderful legacy?

Could you send an extra Christmas card this year and brighten someone's day?

It’s not too early to start mentioning the C word! Christmas is looming and will be upon us faster than we think.  It catches me out every year. I start out being well organised, then have a massive long gap and then everything is a mad rush!

I’ve talked about Christmas cards before in the Rainbow Ramblings section and why I send rather a lot so I won’t go over that again, but I am asking this year, if you could be a Rainbow friend and perhaps send one or two extras that you hadn’t considered before. Many of you don’t send cards at all, or just to immediate friends, and donate instead to a favourite charity so you are already a Rainbow Friend doing great things which is amazing, but could you afford to send just one or two as an extra?

Christmas is a time of fun, laughter, friendship and family. Many of us will spend a few days with relatives or close friends having a wonderful time but there are many more that will find these festive few days even longer than a normal one, knowing full well that they are all alone and that people they might normally see are busy with their own families. Whatever someone says, Christmas Day is NOT just another day. It is a special day that can exacerbate our feelings of loneliness, remind us of lost loved ones and engulf us in grief or depression. With medical science as it is, many people are living longer lives and as we age we start to lose our friends, leaving us feel isolated and lonely. Many people get to the point where they can’t be bothered or are unable to put up Christmas decorations and if you were to walk into their houses, there are no signs that the festive season is upon us.

And this is why I am asking if you could send a card to someone you know who may be on their own, or may be struggling to cope with the isolation of Christmas. Receiving something in the post that is not a bill or junk mail instantly gives some pleasure, opening it to find a festive picture will give more and finding a handwritten short note inside will increase this even further. Not only have you provided something to brighten up their room, you will have shown that they are thought about and cared about. Just to be remembered will provide comfort and some joy and a short visit would provide even more if that were possible.

There are charities that would enjoy receiving and forwarding your good wishes or you could send to your local care home. Two of my favourite charities that certainly would be grateful are Postcards of Kindness which can be found on Facebook or through Age UK and who provide lists of care homes throughout the UK that participate and From Me To You. This charity sends uplifting messages to people going through cancer treatment and they are running a special campaign aiming to send 4,000 Christmas cards this year to cancer patients in hospital. It is their biggest target yet! They ask for people to send a card with an uplifting message, long enough to distract a patient and entertain them (not just a signature). I aim to send several and will probably write about the magic of Christmas stockings, or traditions we have in our family etc. Any cards sent should be unsealed (all messages are read through to ensure that there is nothing to upset a patient), blank envelopes and placed in a larger envelope.  These should then be sent to Donate a Letter, PO Box 6033, Ascot SL5 5FH before Thursday 16th December to ensure the charity has time to deliver them.

Alternatively, if you have a neighbour who you know is isolated or has no family, try popping a card through their door. Not only will you be making that person feel slightly less alone, but you will experience the feel-good factor of thinking and helping others – a known factor that increases our own wellbeing.

An extra card or two won’t break the bank and doesn’t  take up much time, but could bring a huge amount of happiness to another human being.

Caps of Courage

www.capsofcourage.com

Facebook: CapsofCourage

Facebook group: Caps of Courage Sewing Heroes

I've found a new initiative, begun only a few months ago, which has proved so popular it already has  over 1000 volunteers signed up!

Caps of Courage began with a simple idea by Lions Clubs International, but has quickly grown into a national volunteer led project that unites crafters across the UK. Whether you knit, sew or crochet, this project could be for you!

Caps of Courage aims to provide free handmade caps to all children and young people affected by cancer. At the moment there are over 17,000 children living with cancer and another 2,000+ will be diagnosed each year.  Cancer treatment is brutal. It affects people physically, emotionally and socially. Dealing with changes in body shape and loss of hair can leave children and young people feeling very self-conscious: anxious that they look different from everybody else and that they may stand out in a crowd. I know myself that the fear of losing my hair was a major problem and it is perhaps even more difficult for young people.

Through this initiative, the group aims to change those feelings by providing individually hand made hats. These can offer warmth, comfort and confidence to someone going through a cancer journey and prove a reminder that they are not alone: someone has taken the time to select the materials, create the hat and send it into the project. Through this simple act, they hope to create many smiles and bring hope and courage to the recipient whilst also enabling a community built on compassion and support throughout the UK.

Anybody can get involved either as an individual or with others, such as the WI, craft groups, schools or work based groups etc. There is no time limit and no deadline to fulfil - caps are welcome at any time throughout the year. Caps can be made in any colour and through any medium – each one thus being truly individual. Completed caps that are sent to the project are gifted to hospitals and families, each one carrying a message of care and courage. Children  can enjoy selecting their own hat, one that they truly like, in their favourite colours and patterns.

You can also choose the style of hat that you would like to make though there are patterns to download on the Facebook page, found under the files section. But basically any child friendly style, colour or size can be made and donated. Demand is high so feel free to make as many as you wish!

There are also a variety of caps available to order from the website:  beanie, turban, classic, scrub caps and longer styles for warmer days – something to suit every child’s needs. The caps not only help people to feel cared for and help restore confidence, they also provide warmth and comfort in the winter and protection for sensitive skin in the summer.

There are other ways to help too.  You could choose to host a sew and social event, encouraging friends, neighbours and workmates to get involved or raise funds that can be used to cover the cost of basic essentials such as yarn, fabric, labels and packaging. Just as important is spreading information so that more people can get involved or you could offer to distribute caps in your local area. It costs around £5 to cover the cost of each cap including the making and delivering, so any donations will be put to good use. Volunteers give their time and skills freely and work hard to ensure as many children as possible can choose a hat of their own. Work places could sponsor a cap (s) choosing a theme to match their brands or passions.

In only 3 months over 1,000 volunteers have got involved which is truly remarkable. The caps/hats are just a small thing but make a huge difference. To get downloads of the different styles of hats join the Facebook group and look under files. You can also find sewing tips, encouragement and inspiration, information on how to donate your finished caps and lots of stories that will ensure you are inspired to join in and help many children and young people going through a very difficult time.

As the website says: ‘No cape required, just a sewing machine (or needle), a kind heart and the desire to help young heroes feel seen, supported and strong.’

Love Amelia

www.loveamelia.org.uk

3 Glaholm Road

Hendon

Sunderland

SR1 2NX

Email: hello@loveamelia.org.uk

Tel: 01917165448

In the weeks and months that followed, Steph fundraised for various child bereavement groups and created 12 boxes of essential baby items which she donated to the hospital, each one representing one minute of Amelia’s life. The boxes all contained a letter that she signed ‘Love Amelia.’ Following this, Steph started to collect preloved items and equipment that she could then pass on to families in need. Demand quickly grew and in February 2019 she set up the registered charity named ‘Love Amelia,’ and created a lasting legacy to her much missed daughter.

The charity now occupy a warehouse unit in Hendon where they collect, clean and distribute donations for babies, children and teenagers up to the age of 16.  They believe that every child should have the best start in life ‘and that by reusing items children have outgrown, we can support families in greatest need in a meaningful way.’  Since 2019, they have given out over 19,000 bundles and supported over 24,000 children. It is a shocking statistic that so many need basic help. In 2024, items to the value of £1,038.273 were distributed and nearly 10,000 people supported.

The warehouse is open Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm but people cannot self refer. If you are in need or know someone who is, they can be referred via health visitors, support workers, social workers, school staff etc.

There are several ways that you can support this worthwhile charity even if you are not living in the immediate area. Love Amelia accept donations of preloved baby items in great condition and hold monthly donation days at the unit when you can deliver them. They are unable to collect. Details of these days can be found on their website or by e mailing. The website has detailed lists of what can and cannot be accepted.  Examples of items they cannot accept include  car seats as they cannot guarantee that the seats have not been involved in an accident of some kind and cot/moses basket mattresses.  They do not have the space to hold large toys or furniture and cannot take nappies.

Some examples of items they can accept include books, toys, puzzles, teddies, bouncers and rockers, baby baths, prams, pushchairs, maternity clothes and so on. Please check the website if you have any items that you are considering donating.  The centre asks only for items on their current list due to a shortage of storage space and this can be found on the donations page. The wish list and an Amazon donation list are updated each month. All items must be in a good, clean condition.

Any cash donations are used to repair or replace donated items, to buy a new mattress for every cot or moses basket distributed and for the purchase of much needed items such as underwear, safety gates and so on.   There are examples on the website of what a one off or regular donation can provide and details of how you can donate.

Volunteers are always need to sort, check and distribute items.  The charity understand that many people can offer regular slots but others only one off or short sessions and are happy to accommodate you with flexible sessions. They are also interested in those who can offer professional help in areas including finance, administration and fundraising. Interested parties are asked to get in touch for further advice or to fill in a volunteer sign up form found on the website and someone will get back in touch with you.

Holding a fundraising event is also a great help not only for raising much needed funds but also to raise awareness. The charity will encourage and help you to promote your event and will send a free t-shirt for you to wear then. A fundraising toolkit is available on the website.

It may be that this charity is too far from where you live for you to actively help but I imagine that there are other similar ventures and there may be one close to you. If not you could check your local press or contact your local food bank, women’s refuge or baby clinics to see if they could pass on your unwanted baby items to a family in need.  It’s a great way to clear out stuff that is no longer needed and wonderful to know that another baby can benefit from your generosity.

As the charity states: ‘..every child deserves the best start …’  and you can help with your donations.

Could you help an organisation by volunteering?

Volunteering can take many forms. I already volunteer for the charity From me to You, a charity that sends letters to people undergoing cancer treatment. I write them two letters a month. (Details can be found on a previous entry.) But that is all I do, or so I thought when someone then pointed out a few other things I do which I hadn’t considered to be volunteering. They don’t take up a great deal of time but they make a difference. These include messaging a sick friend every day with snippets of news so that they don’t feel they are being left out, visiting an elderly lady who cannot get out of the house anymore and collecting unwanted items such as used stamps for various charities. None of these take up huge amounts of time and I don’t consider them volunteering, but they are things I do to help others.

The act of volunteering is described as someone giving their time and energy freely to help others or to support organisations without expecting any reimbursement. Volunteering can benefit individuals, communities or organisations and can be a mix of formal, or informal activities. Many charities and organisations could not function without the help of volunteers; they are invaluable to their day to day running. Think of all the charity shops and the many people who sort through donations, stock the shelves or serve at the counter. Other shops require knitted or crafted goods to sell, such as animal rescues or items collected. Scouting and guiding is almost entirely run by volunteers providing safe places for children to go. Then there are food banks, organisations such as the Women’s Institute or the University of the 3A which need volunteers to ensure their smooth running. The need for volunteers is vast. In my village and its close neighbours, we have a community library to run, a weekly coffee morning, a Women’s Institute, village in bloom, Hot spots providing warm soup in winter, the parish council, yearly litter pick and so on, the list of activities needing support is endless.

Volunteering does not have to demand a great deal of time; in fact, it is one of the few things you can do where YOU dictate how much time and effort you can put in. If you only have a few hours every now and again that doesn’t matter, just choose  an organisation where they can accept that.

There are many personal benefits from volunteering too. It is a great way to make a positive impact on something that you care about whether that be helping at a soup kitchen or creating something for an animal rescue centre. It helps strengthen communities by working together on a common goal and helps individuals to connect with others.  As a direct consequence of that, feelings of isolation and loneliness can seriously improve. Volunteering can help us grow as individuals, building self confidence and self esteem and helping us to learn new skills from others and it could help change someone else’s life for the better.

Volunteering has been proven to reduce stress levels as it provides a sense of purpose and combats a lack of self-worth. For those who have battled loneliness or feeling an outsider, it can help you to integrate into your community and become an active and valued participant.

These are all fabulous reasons for volunteering as your community, organisation and yourself could benefit hugely but volunteering can also be great fun! Making a tangible difference to something that you care about is such a great feeling, supporting others, seeing the differences that can be made are all hugely rewarding and if you are in a position to do so can benefit you greatly.

So why have I joined a committee?  I already feel more a part of the group I have volunteered for. I have enjoyed this group for a few years and would like to contribute to its future success.  I am unable to devote as much time as most of those on the committee but can help out in smaller ways which will bring me satisfaction and I am hoping that my confidence will grow as I become more involved.

The great thing about volunteering is that you don’t always need lots of special skills or vast amounts of free time.  Choose what you are interested in, approach the organisation and offer what you can. Most charities and organisations will be so grateful for the offer, they will encourage you instantly.

If we all gave a little bit back to society, we could make big changes. Check out your local paper and social media for ideas and suggestions.  Approach a local group and give it some serious thought. By putting that effort in, you are likely to get far greater benefits along with a sense of purpose, some new skills and a host of new friends.

The main fact to remember is, that without volunteers, many organisations would cease to exist and that is a sobering thought.

The Buddy Bag Foundation

www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk

Unit 16 Maybrook Road

 Maybrook Business Park

Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield

Birmingham

B76 1AL

Tel 077976962986

Email: hello@buggybagfoundation.co.uk

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The Buddy Bag Foundation was founded in 2015 with the aim of making a difference to these children in need and to provide a sense that someone cares, in a world where maybe love has been in short supply. During 2014, founder Karen Williams OBE was visiting Australia when she read an article about the A & M Foundation which has delivered 100,000 buddy bags to children in Australia since 2007.  These were bags providing basic essentials to children entering emergency care.  Returning to the UK, Karen recognised the huge need here and set up the Buddy Bag Foundation with the help and support of The A & M Foundation.

Karen was determined to respond to the rising number of children fleeing from often violent situations in their homes to emergency care and trying to restore a sense of safety and security in to what has been a traumatic time in a child’s life. Her aim was to supply each child with a Buddy bag containing around 12 essential items that a child would need on their first night. For those who have left home in haste and arrived with nothing, they are vitally important as they provide the child with something they can keep and call their own, no matter where they go. Each bag will contain items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, soap along with other basic hygiene essentials and a pair of pyjamas, socks and underwear.  Also included are usually a teddy bear or soft toy, providing huge comfort to a traumatised child and a bedtime story book or colouring book and crayons  – items that most of us take for granted.  Each bag is tailored to a specific age: 0-2 years, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 and13-16 and a specific gender.

The first Buddy bag pack took place on May 1st 2012 and the Foundation was registered as a charity on December 1st 2015. Since then, over 69,000 bags have been packed. During Covid, the Foundation created craft boxes which were delivered to refuges. In June 2022, the Foundation was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services for their outstanding work, the highest award voluntary groups can receive in the UK.

There are various ways that you can support the Foundation both individually and as groups. If you live locally, you can volunteer yourself or your business to help with bag packs. For those living elsewhere: funds are always needed.  £25 will purchase all the supplies a child needs when entering emergency accommodation.  The foundation is run entirely by volunteers and guarantees that 100% of all donated money is used for supplies.  If you work in a business creating suitable products, perhaps you could persuade your company to donate to the Foundation or provide sponsorship.

For crafters, there are patterns (crafters pack) available on the website for toiletry bags if you like sewing and for simple teddy bears for those who prefer knitting. These add a homely touch to the buddy back packs and can be individualised with specific colours or patterns. Also on the website is information and publicity materials to use in your workspace, schools, organisations etc, resources for children to access and short films showing the work that they do. As always, with any of the charities I mention, publicity is key.  This is not a charity I had heard of before so I am hoping that spreading the word will encourage others to look them up.  Refuges can apply to the Foundation for bags and all details can be found on the website and as a personal collector, if you decide to make bags of your own, the Foundation will help you to find a suitable place to donate in your local area. There is also an online shop with specific items such as books, teddies and pyjamas where if you buy an item, the equivalent is donated – another way to help fund these essential packs.

Imagine you are a child whose life has been one of fear. Imagine running from your home with your mum and siblings dressed just as you are, leaving your favourite toy behind and entering a strange building with absolutely nothing.  Imagine being given a brightly coloured backpack filled with goodies: your own toothbrush, a new pair of pyjamas, clean underwear, a book to read and a teddy to cuddle. And then imagine what a difference that will make to the way you are feeling, the joy that you would experience and the comfort that would bring.  The Buddy Bag Foundation provides hope, comfort and love to children suffering. Could you help them?

Sharewear Clothing Scheme

www.sharewearclothingscheme.org

D1-D2 Cowlairs

Nottingham

NG5 9RA

Tel: 03300577844

Email: info@sharewearclothingscheme.org

Sharewear’s mission is to provide free bedding and clothing to those in need through a referral system or through an outreach service to a variety of organisations. Anyone who is referred is given a voucher which enables them to visit the centre. Here they are shown rails of suitable clothing for them to select what is needed, whether it be for everyday use, interview or for work etc.

Sharewear began in March 2014 and became a registered charity in November two years later. Originally, they were completely volunteer led but now they have 4 employees including the Founder and CEO working alongside an army of willing volunteers, many of whom have benefited from the scheme at some point and want to give back. They constantly raise awareness of clothing poverty – not something I had given much thought to before. I had seen food banks and hygiene banks; at work we have a rail of donated work clothing but the fact that people might not have sufficient clothes to function in society had not been something I was particularly conscious of. The opportunity to choose and how important that is for self esteem and dignity was also an eye opener for me.  Since October 2022, 250 organisations are referring to this Nottingham based centre with places such as the East and West Midlands, South Yorkshire and North London placing orders for outreach deliveries.

Although the centre is based in Nottingham, if you are not in the area donations can be posted or there may be something similar in your area. They also have loads of information on their website about  setting up your own scheme, offering advice, information, equipment and support with grants amongst lots of other things to help you get started. Check out the Community Sharewear franchise information if this is something that might be of interest to you or your business.

The charity accepts new and preloved clothing and bedding. If you are unable to donate in person and are choosing to post they are currently ask you to get in touch first, so that they can coordinate while changes are being made to their system. In Nottingham there are various clothing banks where donations can be left or manned donation points (often in churches). The rules are simple: if you would like to donate please make sure the clothing is of high quality. Ask would you wear it yourself or be happy if a member of your family was wearing the item?  If so, then place in a carrier bag to avoid damage and then into the collecting unit.   Knickers, pants, tights and socks, which are vital, MUST be new, but lightly worn bras are accepted.  They do not accept: food; toiletries; household goods (apart from bedding and towels); bric a brac, jewellery or toys.

Fundraising, donations and raising awareness are all important to help this charity continue its work. You can also donate your Nectar points or participate in a fundraising lottery. Such is the success of the charity, they have won various awards and attracted celebrity interest from the likes of Maxine Peaker and Julie Hesmondhalgh!

If you live in the Nottinghamshire area and would like to donate your time, there are plenty of opportunities. At the service centre volunteers are need to greet customers and give them a tour of the facilities, to prepare and pack orders, to help clients find what they require, to prepare selections of children’s clothing for parents to choose from (no children under 12 are allowed on the premises) and to replenish stock and keep check of what they are short of. At the Processing and Distribution Centre volunteers are needed as processors, clothing operators, stock operators and order processors.  Others can volunteer to help drivers move stock between the centres and make deliveries. Check out the FAQ section on the website for further details.

Inevitably some clothing is donated that is totally unsuitable but yet again, landfill is avoided. All clothing waste is collected by another local family business, WARD, who sell to textile recyclers or repurpose them into wiper rags or energy from waste to keep them out of landfill.

Since march 2014, 130,652 people have been supported and since January 2022, 254 tonnes of clothing has been diverted from landfill. To me, those figures are wonderful but shocking. Why waste good quality clothing when it can be reused by somebody else? Why put it into landfill when all of it can be recycled or repurposed? It makes no sense. I’ve always tried to pass on my clothing to someone else or donate it to charity but had never before understood the growing clothing poverty that exists in this country and how it can impact so heavily on someone’s life.

So next time I am clearing out my wardrobe, (something I need to do quite soon!) I shall look for a similar scheme where I live, rather than place it in an anonymous charity bag at the end of the street. It would be great to think that someone else could benefit and perhaps gain employment through items I have donated.

Caring 4 Critters

5 Huntriss Row

Scarborough

YO12 2ED

Email: C4Critters@yahoo.com

Tel: 07951650316

I’ve not come across this charity before and it does seem to be limited to Yorkshire but perhaps there is a similar outlet near to you.

This relatively new charity is dedicated to helping animals in need whether they are domestic animals or wild animals.  They aim to raise funds in order to provide support to local charities and to make a vast difference in the lives of animals in the area, ensuring that they receive the best care and protection that is available.

The charity set up its flagship shop in Huntriss Row on the 1st of November 2023 and it seems to be going from strength to strength. It looks like the shop sells everything – good quality clothing, accessories, shoes, ornaments, household goods, toys and so on.  It is also the fundraising hub for Caring 4 Critters, led by Managing Director Sue Kendall.  With incredible support from the local community, generous patrons and hardworking volunteers, the shop has had an excellent start. Every purchase directly supports their mission to help as many animals as they can and to be ‘.. a beacon of hope and compassion for animals in need.’  The funds raised contribute to critical rescue missions, the ongoing veterinary care and conservation efforts that protect and enhance the lives of even the tiniest of creatures.

The shop has become a hub for information on how you can help the charity by donating goods, raising funds or holding a fundraising event such as raffles, stalls and jumble sales.  They also have a veterinary nurse popping in to give useful advice on looking after your animals and even a talk from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service on how to ensure your pets do not unwittingly cause a fire and their fire safety. Further talks and events are in the planning stages.

The charity has chosen to raise funds for four local animal charities.  These are:

Yorkshire Coast Dog Rescue who work to rescue and rehome dogs

Northern Badger Group

Yorkshire Seal Group

Critters in Crisis who support both wild life and domestic animals.

The charity was so successful in its first year, it was able to donate £1000 to each of the four charities it supports and it has now opened a second shop in Aberdeen Walk in February of this year.  They welcome visitors to look around the shop and hopefully find that all important bargain. With a vast range of goods, plus beautiful cards, coasters and pictures of animals taken by local photographers, there is surely something for everyone!  But, even if you are unable to donate or visit the shop, the charity asks you to spread the word of this new venture believing that even the smallest mention can help to support their vital work.

Follow them on Facebook to see news of the latest events, success stories and ideas for what you can do to help.  And if you do not live anywhere near Yorkshire, perhaps there is a similar group near to you which you can support instead.

Random Acts of Crochet Kindness

www.randomactsofcrochetkindness.com

Can you crochet?  Are you looking for some projects to keep you busy?

If so, perhaps you might think of making some random acts of crochet kindness!  

 These are small individual items which are made and left in strategic places for other people to find and keep.  The idea is to give a little piece of brightness and happiness to someone else, making their day more special and making people smile. These kind strangers donating items for the benefit of someone else, are helping to build a community of kindness that other people can join in too.

The aim of random acts is to make the world a happier and more positive place. In amongst all the doom and gloom of local and world news, finding a random object in a random place can mean the difference between having a gloomy day and finding joy in life. In this way, we can help others to improve their mental health and wellbeing with the joy of finding a random piece of crochet, but at the same time, the joy of giving improves our own mental wellbeing too! It is a win/win situation.

It is amazing how a small, simple but unexpected gesture can have a huge impact on other people. Finding something unexpectedly can completely change your view of the day and make you think that life is not so hard or difficult or unhappy as you originally thought.

A Facebook page by the same name was created by Olivia Dieterich who lost one of her best friends to suicide. It was a difficult time for everyone concerned and Olivia decided that she needed a distraction and a purpose to help her cope. She began a 100 day flower challenge which involved her creating 100 flowers with a message, that she would leave in random places for strangers to find. In this way she hoped to make someone else smile.  The BBC contacted her when they discovered what was going on and how by making these simple flowers, Olivia was creating joy and light in what had been a dark time for her and her friends.

There are many different groups, some purely devoted to crochet and others that are linked to the more general random acts of kindness groups.  Crocheters can create anything they wish – hearts, flowers, butterflies, worry worms and so on to brighten the day and make someone smile, or more useful items such as hats and scarves which can be left for homeless people to take.  Many items are placed in plastic bags to keep them protected from the weather until they are found and many will have a simple note or rhyme attached explaining that the item is free and intended to be taken. They might explain the reasoning behind the movement: to spread happiness and joy and to give comfort.

There are loads of ideas on YouTube or Pinterest as well as on the various random acts Facebook pages. Many encourage people to post images of their creations and where they are left, will offer free patterns and will have helpful information on how to go about creating your own random acts.

Random acts of crochet kindness uses one stitch at a time to create a warmer and more connected world, allowing people to share their skills, their passions and their warmth to make a positive impact on a stranger’s day. The maker is likely never to know who finds their creations or what effect it might have, but they are aware that they are beginning a chain reaction.  They create an item, it is found, a person will smile and maybe that will be passed onto somebody else in need of some support.

Being kind to one another without any specific reason just feels great. Knowing that you are brightening someone’s day, making them smile and forget their troubles for a while has a wonderful effect on your own mental health and wellbeing. It is true that kind words and actions may not seem to be that significant or grand, but the long-term effects and the ripple effect that they cause are surprisingly large.

Find a group near you, check out the Facebook groups or set up a random group of your own and spread a little joy in what can appear to be a very dark, depressing and difficult world to negotiate at the moment.  Have some fun, use bright colours and enjoy the secrecy involved in making and hiding your creations. Hopefully messages will appear on your local Facebook site explaining just what joy these delightful finds can have.

Boots recycling schemes

www.boots.com

recycle your blister packs, contact lens packaging and empty toiletry containers

To participate all you have to do is download the Recycle at Boots app.  Here you can log your empties and await validation.  Once 5 items are approved, these can be deposited in a participating store, the collection bin scanned and advantage points awarded.  Full details can be found on their website alongside a store locator for you to find your nearest collecting point. Blister packs must be empty but if you have some still containing medication that is not needed, speak to the pharmacy team who will help you dispose of it safely and responsibly.

On collection, the blister packs are taken to MyGroup who separate the foil and plastic using a specialised machine. The separated metal foil is recycled conventionally as it can be reused over and over again and the plastic components are processed into a useable form to be used in the creation of items such as window frames and piping.  Nothing goes to landfill or is incinerated.

Another recycling scheme which I have not seen before but am excited by, is for the blister packs and foil covers from contact lenses.  In 2021 over 2.2m items of contact lens packaging was recycled, diverting 12 tons of waste from landfill. Boots Opticians stores have a Zero Waste Box which makes recycling a simple and convenient solution to getting rid of your packaging.

Recycle at Boots will also take some of your empty health, beauty, wellness and dental product containers in their mission to keep Britain beautiful. Many brands can be recycled by conventional kerbside collection schemes, but there are some that cannot be disposed of in this way due to their size or the materials used in their manufacture.  The Recycle at Boots app will again be used in this instance.  The app validates items that can be taken to the store and will not accept anything that can be recycled by normal means. Validation will occur within 24 hours and points can be earned.

All items need to be washed and thoroughly cleaned. Participants then log them into the app, await validation and then deposit them in store in the various collecting boxes. The QR code on the box needs to be scanned to earn your rewards. Recycle 5 or more items and spend £10 in store to collect 500 Advantage Card points.

Packaging is reused to make garden furniture, playground equipment and other useful items, once again transforming our rubbish/waste into something more valuable and avoiding landfill.

These schemes are easy to use if you can handle Apps and avoid overuse of landfill sites. It seems a great initiative from Boots and another way to increase the number of customers heading through their doors when many big name shops are struggling. It is great to see them adapting, listening to their customers and helping them to dispose of unwanted items in a responsible and useful way.

Donate your unwanted LEGO bricks to inspire the builders of tomorrow

LEGO Replay

www.lego.com/Replay-UK

They love to hear that no bricks are wasted – that sets are passed between friend’s and families and are used over and over again for many years. However, they are also aware that there may finally be a time when you have no one else to pass it onto or your family is just not interested.  LEGO will suggest donating it to charity shops, local community activities or schools but they have also launched the LEGO Replay scheme in the UK as a way to ‘breathe new life into old bricks by transforming them into useful items that inspire playful learning.’

The Replay scheme was launched in the United States in 2019, Canada in 2020 and finally in the UK in 2024. It is a very simple scheme which enables people to donate their unwanted or odd bricks without fuss or cost. LEGO are aware that 94% of British LEGO is re gifted or donated to good causes and they don’t want to stop this but, if you have odd bricks or sets with missing pieces, they don’t want these to be thrown into the bin, ultimately ending up as landfill. These pieces can be reused, redistributed or created into new items.

LEGO states ‘Your LEGO bricks aren’t ready to retire yet. They’ve still got plenty of adventure left in them,’ and they have set up the Replay scheme to address this.

The scheme is incredibly simple. They ask you to break up all your spare bits into individual pieces, pack them into a box, download a freepost label and then send it to them! Pack it, Print it, Ship it! The bricks don’t even have to be cleaned before packing though you can if you want to. All donated bricks are cleaned on site before transforming into new items but there are handy hints on the website if you wish to wash bricks or clean your own collection. Once received, the donations are cleaned and organised into collections that have a variety of components to help children create and build in an open-ended way - they are not designed to be sets to make a specific item. Each collection will have a mixture of shapes and colours. Breaking down the bricks makes it easier to pack and for sorting at the collection point.

LEGO Replay are collecting any LEGO system bricks from single or multiple sets, LEGO mini figures and mini dolls plus LEGO baseplates. They are not collecting Duplo or Technic, sets that are already put together (either partially or fully), batteries or electrical components, LEGO merchandise, instructions or packaging – it is bricks only.

Boxed donations can be taken to any DPD Drop off Point. Some old bricks are transformed into storage boxes and then filled with new LEGO bricks to be donated to children and communities in need, others will be distributed in mixed selections.

It’s a great way to reuse bricks that are no longer needed or wanted. LEGO see it as another way to extend the current life of their bricks rather than using energy and resources to transform them into something new and helping the company to reduce its environmental impact.  Tim Brooks LEGO’s VP of environmental sustainability says ‘We want to rehome, repurpose or recycle every LEGO brick to keep them in play for longer.’

This scheme seems an ideal way to ensure that that happens. So next time you are having a sort out, collect up those sets with missing pieces, the bits your own children don’t need or want anymore or your partner’s ancient sets from their childhood and send them off to Replay. You can then be happy knowing that you are helping another generation to build, dream and explore new worlds and who knows, maybe supporting and inspiring the architects and construction workers of the future!

Keep an eye on your neighbours and wildlife through the colder months

Many local communities have organised hot spots – places where people can gather to keep warm, have a hot drink, a simple meal and some company and these are amazing places providing a very valuable service. But when the weather is bad, it is not always easy for people to access them – the dangers are too great or the weather too cold. And this is when problems can occur. A lonely person can begin feeling more isolated.  A cold person gets even colder. And a hungry person, can’t get out to get something to eat.  So what can we do as a good neighbour to help those in our community who are finding things hard?

I am sure you can think of lots of things but here are a few examples:

Find out where your local hotspot is and offer your services. You could help with the preparation and serving of food, donate some produce that could be turned into nutritious meals, do the washing up or just sit with the more vulnerable in your community offering companionship and comfort.

Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Pop in to say hello and ensure that they are warm and comfortable, that they have a hot drink to hand and something warm to eat.

Ring people for a chat and brighten their day especially if they have been confined to their house and unable to get out, providing a link to the outside world and the opportunity to speak to a real person.

Ensure you have torches and candles to hand in the event of a power cut and visit an elderly person if there is one to make sure they are safe and not afraid.

Offer to baby sit for young families if a parent needs to go to work or out to buy groceries but would find it hard to take their children with them or offer to do the shopping for them instead.

Clear pathways for those unable to do it themselves so that they can get to their cars, or to their dustbins etc without fear of falling over.

Check for stray animals and leave out food and water for them.  Keep bird tables well stocked and break ice on water bowls regularly so they have access to drinking water.

These are just a few examples, there are so many more things we could do as a community to ensure that our friends and neighbours are safe, warm, well fed and able to cope. I am lucky that I live in a small village and although I don’t know many people who live here, there were clear signs that our community is alive and thriving when I went out this morning.  A farmer had brought his tractor and was clearing the small roads.  Some people were using the grit tubs to make the corners easier to handle, others were shovelling snow from driveways. The next village along has been partly hit by a power cut but several households had sent messages to say that they had electricity and were happy for anyone to pop in for  a warm, a hot drink or to fill their flasks with hot water. Others were saying they had plenty of food and people were welcome to call in for a simple but warming meal. When the news is often filled with gloom and stories of people being cruel and unkind, these simple gestures truly make you believe that there are still many kind people and good community feeling around.  Wouldn’t it be nice to publicise that more instead?

So this wintertime, when the weather gets bad, be a Rainbow friend and call on someone you think may need some assistance. Even if they don’t, having a visitor or a call from a friendly neighbour, will brighten their day.  No one should feel isolated, cold, hungry or alone – it costs nothing to call in apart from time but the good that you could do with that simple act is immeasurable.

Be a good friend and neighbour, keep that community spirit going and know that by helping someone else, it will brighten your day too!