A craft circle is marking five years since its transition into producing quilts which are donated to young adults living independently after leaving care.
St Mark’s Church on Moray Rd, Tollington, has held a craft circle for more than ten years, meeting every Thursday to take part in activities such as knitting, sewing and crochet. Since Ms Mason, a retired care worker, took over the craft circle, the group has produced quilts in collaboration with the charity Quilts for Care Leavers.
Ms Mason said: “We call them hugs because they are made with love and big enough wrap someone in warmth. Both my grandsons are care leavers which is why this project is so close to my heart. I wanted to do something that would make a difference to young people’s lives.”
Quilts for Care Leavers is inspired by the poet Lemn Sissay, who grew up in care and advocates for reform to the system. In 2018 its volunteers made 120 quilts which were distributed across the country at Christmas. In 2022 the charity sent out around 1,000 quilts throughout the year to social services, schools and universities.
Ms Mason said that “each month, someone plucks up the courage and chooses the pattern for that month. Then we all make the blocks and send them in for the charity to sew them together as they have larger sewing machines”.
Ms Mason has produced a book of photos to remember all the quilts that have been made by the group in the past five years, as well as ones she’s made in her own time. She said: “It’s nice to see what we have achieved so far, and we hope to make many more hugs for people that need them.”
