Knitting campaign raises money for farming charity

Creating woolly hats and bobbles has been keeping rural communities across Wales busy, helping maintain good mental health while the sound of knitting needles and chatter fills the air.

Knitting has frequently been hailed as a mindful activity that can help combat stress (just ask Olympic diver Tom Daley).

And the finger-nimble activity is now also raising money for the Wales-based mental health charity, the DPJ Foundation, as part of its “knit a bobble for that wobble” campaign.

See also: Rural suicide – help is never far away

Kate Miles, DPJ Foundation manager, said: “The idea is that we encourage people within our community to take to the knitting needles and knit hats which they can then send to us.”

The process of knitting, she adds, is positive for mental health and wellbeing.

And allows people from all walks of life and with varying physical abilities to contribute to the charity.

Community hubs

Support for the knitting challenge, which has so far seen more than 200 woolly hats being created, has also come from unexpected corners.

This includes a sheltered housing development in Bala and community centres that offer warm hubs and want to add a bit of activity.

“It’s that shared activity, that shared space, the shared challenge.

“And it’s really demonstrated to us the need for that type of collective focus,” explains Kate.

The hats are available in adult and kids’ sizes, priced at £7.50 and £5 respectively.

Proceeds from sales directly fund the charity’s activities.

Essential funding

“That money is essential to the work of the DPJ Foundation and will go towards funding our helpline and paying for professional counselling.

“It also helps us to provide lifesaving therapy that can help someone unpick and unravel really challenging issues that they might be encountering,” she explains.

In addition, the charity is now converting a second health lorry.

This is set to serve communities in north Wales, providing a safe space to talk and get a physical health check.

If you want to “knit a bobble for that wobble”, you can send your woolly hats directly to the DPJ Foundation at Units 2&3 Rural Business Development Centre, Carmarthen Livestock Market, Llysonnen Road, Carmarthen SA33 5DR.

They will then sew on a DPJ Foundation label and add to their stock for subsequent fundraising. 

You can buy the hats using PayPal.