Margaret Boughey and Maureen Bradbury with some of the items made for the neonatal unit

Submitted by Sue Johnston

Residents at a Stoke-on-Trent retirement community have been keeping themselves busy by knitting clothing and blankets for premature babies.

People at Baskeyfield House, which is part of Sanctuary Retirement Living, have their own apartments with communal facilities and are provided with onsite care and support if ever needed. There are also regular activities and events to keep them busy which are organised by the wellbeing and inclusion team, this includes a weekly knit and knatter meet-up.

During lockdown they were not able to meet up in person as many people were shielding in their apartments, but those involved in the knit and knatter group kept themselves entertained by knitting items such as blankets, cardigans, hats, gloves and booties for premature babies.

Once the local hospital's neonatal unit confirmed that they had enough knitted items in stock, the wellbeing and inclusion team got in touch with the ‘Handmade with love for preemies UK’ Facebook group which works with over 100 neonatal units across the country, sending items to where they are needed the most.

Karen Leigh, wellbeing and inclusion assistant at Baskeyfield House, said: “I am so proud of how many beautiful baby items the residents’ knit and knatter group have made and I am sure that they are going to be very well-received.

"The residents really enjoyed making them and they are already looking forward to their next project which will be knitting blankets for animal rescue charities and warm hats for local homeless people. It’s great that they can give something back to their community.”