Chandler's Ford u3a Crafties Group support St John's Winchester

St John’s Winchester, which supports older people to live well and independently for as long as possible, recently celebrated reaching 200 referrals for its dementia support service.

To mark the occasion, Chandler’s Ford u3a Crafties group donated six twiddle muffs, knitted muffs providing sensory stimulation and keeping hands warm, and seven ‘Granny Square’ blankets.

The colourful and vibrant knitted items will be used at the Memory Wellbeing Centre. Crafties members Linda Hughes and Debby Bartlett visited Maddie Cowell, head of fundraising at St John’s, to hand over the goods created by the group.

READ MORE: Charity opens second memory wellbeing centre to support those living with dementia

St John's staff with Crafties members (Image: Chandlers Ford u3a)

They also met with admiral nurses and members of the support team. St John’s runs many activities including well-being sessions held at Winchester Sport and Leisure Park as part of the Dementia Support service.

The charity also works in partnership with Shawford Springs, Barchester Healthcare, and other dementia support groups for people living with dementia and their carers.

Maddie Cowell said: “The u3a Crafties group kindly got in touch with us to say they had been busy making the items and wanted to donate them to our Dementia Support service, for which we are extremely grateful.”

The ‘Crafties’ were delighted to be able to create and donate items to help St John’s and will continue to make more items using the wool that has also been donated.

Chandler’s Ford u3a is a charity within a UK-wide movement that aims to bring people together who are no longer in full-time employment, to develop their interests, broaden their horizons and offer a friendly and informal environment to continue learning. For more go to cfordu3a.org.uk/.