The Kirkwood, the charity who provides support for local people affected by a life limiting illness across Kirklees, has joined forces with local festival, WOVEN, to help raise essential funds to continue its care for anyone who needs them.
The bi-annual WOVEN festival, which runs from the 5th-27th June, funded by Kirklees Council, has chosen to make The Kirkwood its charity partner this year, helping to drive sponsorship funds which will enable The Kirkwood Nurses to continue providing vital care for patients in their own homes, when and where they need it.
To kick start this year’s festival, a passionate group of knitters and crocheters from across the district will be unveiling a spectacular rainbow-coloured yarn installation at Huddersfield Train Station. Named ‘The Big Rainbow Knit’, the installation will be hung from the pillars at the entrance of the station, bringing a vibrant flash of colour to St George’s Square.
So far this year, an incredible £5,000 has been raised for The Kirkwood in sponsorships pledged by those taking part in the Big Rainbow Knit. Those knitting or crocheting squares for the installation can raise funds for The Kirkwood by applying for a fundraising pack through The Kirkwood website and asking sponsors to support their cause as they weave, all in the name of charity.
The installation at the station is made up of 2,500 individual woven squares, lovingly supplied by crafters across Kirklees, from beginners making their very first patch, right through to those who have been weaving for decades.
Following an overwhelming volume of knitted squares sent in to support the appeal, The Kirkwood has installed a 10x10ft K, fabricated from over 440 woven squares at their Albany Road site to coincide with The Big Rainbow Knit. Tying into The Kirkwood’s new brand messaging, the giant K is made from a wooden frame, the materials for which were kindly donated by Timber Specialists Ltd in Huddersfield. The installation was constructed by Brent Owen from Just the Job in Lepton and fixed to the wall by Michael Wilson and Son contractors.
After the festival has ended, the knitted squares from the station installation will be repurposed into blanket sections and donated to a number of local charities who are dedicated to helping the homeless. It is hoped that the K at The Kirkwood site might be awarded a Guinness World Record for the largest knitted letter, which will help raise awareness of the charity.
Elspeth McGloughlin, Senior Occupational Therapist with The Kirkwood was involved in the 2019 event. She said: “The Big Knit in 2019 was an amazing event for The Kirkwood. It enabled the patients we support, and their families, to join forces with our team and open our doors to the wider community for an incredible day of crafting. Despite social restrictions that are affecting us all, we want our supporters, employees, volunteers and service users to again feel part of the wider community, promoting creativity and well-being, whilst supporting our work across Kirklees. We hope you will all join us again to make this event even better than the last!”
To take part in The Big Knit and apply for a fundraising pack, please visit https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/how-you-can-help/campaigns/the-big-rainbow-knit