Knitting competition launched to bring smiles to older residents

A CRAFTY, creative and cheerful knitting competition to bring smiles to those in the community who may feel lonely and isolated at this time of year has been organised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Titled ‘The Winter Wooly Rally’, the competition is aimed at encouraging residents of all ages to get knitting or crocheting everything from hats to scarves or gloves to promote positive mental health and well-being – and there will be a prize for the most cheerful winter wooly.

Once the competition has closed, each adult ‘Winter Wooly’ that has been entered will then be gift-wrapped and donated to an older person living within our community to bring them happiness.

Launching the Winter Wooly competition, Cllr Errol Thompson, council chair, has encouraged everyone to pick up their knitting needles… and get ‘clicking’!

“This is a wonderful idea, and I would encourage those who embrace knitting or crocheting as a pastime or indeed those who used to knit but haven’t done so in a while to dust of the knitting needles and get creative,” he said.

“Keeping warm in winter can be difficult for many, particularly those who are more affected by the plummeting temperatures, such as our beloved older population.”

Notes of encouragement

As well as a gift of winter woollies, handwritten notes of encouragement and information regarding local support service will be included with each gift.

And if you can’t knit or crochet – do not fear!

You can still donate an item to improve and brighten an older person’s winter, you can send a hat, scarf or pair of gloves to the address below, these however, won’t be entered into the competition.

The competition will be adjudicated by South West Age Partnership and the items will be distributed with copies of the ‘Happy at Home’ publication.

Rules

Competition rules are as follows:

1. The closing date for submission of entries is Friday, December 3,2021.

2. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will not be responsible for the cost of the materials used.

3. Entries cannot be returned.

4. Name, contact details and an indication as to whether you

handmade or purchased the item should be supplied alongside the submission.

5. All entries should be sent to:

l Health Improvement Team,Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, The Grange, Mountjoy Road, Omagh.