Knitting fundraiser for Norwich care home
2010: Although the summer holidays are in full swing, Livability are inviting people in Norfolk to get into the Christmas spirit early this year and help support the launch of a knitted Christmas tree fundraising challenge.
The project aim is to raise funds for local Norwich residential care home John Grooms Court, Sprowston Road, Norwich, which is home to 20 young disabled adults.
The idea of this unusual project comes from Ann Meijer whose daughter is a resident at John Grooms Court. People are being asked to knit squares and decorations which together will be hung on a wooden framework to create a 15 foot Christmas tree.
Ann Meijer explained how the idea came about, "My daughter Catherine lives at John Grooms Court. She was one of the residents stranded by the lift breakdown which prompted me to think about supporting Livability's fundraising campaign for a new lift. One of our ideas was to enter the Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival and at the same time as I was thinking about how to make our tree different, Mandy Harvey, one of the residents in JGC, was learning to knit and the two ideas came together. We were then very fortunate to be given the opportunity of displaying the tree in The Forum in Norwich and I scaled up the size of the tree to fit the venue.
"We already have an army of local knitters helping us with this great challenge but we want as many local people in the area to be involved as possible. The funds we raise will make a real difference to the lives of local people with disabilities."
Funds raised will go towards an exciting two phase development at John Grooms Court. These works due to begin in the autumn will include the all important second lift and add five new rooms and more communal space to the centre. The work will help improve the lives of existing residents and also help address a chronic shortage of this type of accommodation in Norwich.
The tree will be displayed in The Forum from 19th to 28th November. Then in December the tree will be moved to Norwich Cathedral where it will be on display in the Hostry.
Would you like to get involved?
Contact Ann Meijer at annmeijer@aol.com or Laurel Walpole at laurelwalpole@manningtongardens.co.uk for more details.
People wanting to support John Grooms Court can also send any donations to John Grooms Court, 215 Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4HX.
Pictured above: Mandy Harvey, a resident of John Grooms court, knitting a leaf for the tree
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