Oxfordshire knitters surpass fundraising target

Nationally around 1.5 million hats were knitted to adorn Innocent smoothie bottles raising a total of £375,000 for Age UK.

A total of 40,000 hats were knitted for Age UK Oxfordshire – a massive 15,000 more than the Charity’s original target of 25,000 hats. Following sales of smoothies, this means that £10,000 was raised for Age UK Oxfordshire.

Sophie Dyer, Age UK Oxfordshire’s marketing and fundraising officer, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone that helped to make the Big Knit a huge success, whether through knitting a hat or buying a smoothie.

"Your support meant we received the highest amounts of hats we have ever had, and subsequently the most money raised to help older people across Oxfordshire.

"Thank you so much”.

Launched back in 2003, Innocent asked people to knit or crotchet little woolly hats, then they put those hats on their smoothies.

For each bottle with a hat sold, Innocent donated 25p to the Age UK network. The deadline for the 2018/19 campaign was last July, with minature hats appearing on smoothies across the country last autumn.

This money will help support local older people who have no one else to turn to, including those facing poor health, financial difficulties or loneliness.

Innocent are already planning for the next Big Knit, so you don't need to put your knitting needles away just yet! Every hat is important, and anyone can learn to knit, so whether you knit one or loads, you’ll be making a difference.

If you already have knitted hats ready to go, you can drop them off or post them to Age UK Oxfordshire, 9 Napier Court, Barton Lane, Abingdon, OX14 3YT.

For further information on the Big Knit, call 07827235405 or email [email protected].