Residents knit one and purl one…

05 June 2008

Residents at The Wrekin Housing Trust's Stallard Court sheltered housing scheme in Oakengates have been knitting one and purling one as part of an eight-week textiles course, arranged through Telford College of Arts and Technology (TCAT).

The course, which takes place in the communal room at Stallard Court every Monday morning, aims to offer a varied choice of activities for residents, while at the same time teaching useful skills and fun pastimes.

There are several different techniques on offer including knitting, canvas work and macramé, and all of the necessary equipment and supplies are provided by TCAT and funded by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Those residents who are knitting are producing hats for babies who are born prematurely. These are then being sent to Uganda as part of a nationwide appeal. Other residents are producing macramé hanging basket supports, and working on bringing their designs to life on canvas.

Kim Lythe, scheme manager at Stallard Court, said: "Residents here at Stallard Court were keen to join in with the textiles course. Everyone involved is benefiting from the opportunity to get together over a cup of tea and learn some new skills, proving that you're never too old!"

Dave Timms, community education officer at TCAT, said: "We aim to service the local community in the broadest sense. Although we haven't done a lot with sheltered housing in the past, at the instigation of the scheme manager we visited and assessed Stallard Court, and are pleased to be able to put on these courses. The textiles course in particular has a good mix of men and women who are all either gaining new skills or renewing old ones."


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