Update- March 22

Happy new year all!.

We are continuing to go from strength to strength and there would seem to be no stopping us!

This is where your donation will go. most of our costs are involved with either supplying materials or postage. so thank you for your role in making this happen.

We have been busy with fundraising and small commissions to raise money along with the generosity of the donations we receive here, which we cant thank you enough for. We really couldn't do this without support of everyone!

As ever the support from the Stitchers is phenomenal!

To create an outlet for hobbies enjoyed by so many, to provide a fun, supportive, inclusive community for many that have felt pretty isolated (some still do).

To be able to support this as a free hobby and then provide the items free to people who are just so overwhelmed to be helped. What more could be more amazing. You help make this happen with your generous support. what a team!

In addition to our core support we have also:

*Provided bean bag covers for a local teenager bereavement group after being contacted by Cathy their amazing group leader.

*140 singing masks have been created for 2 local choirs.

*Worry monsters, worms and teddies have been provided to children who are coping with severe anxiety.

* provided knitted chocolate covers to say thank you to our local covid ward staff, A&E staff and Ambulance crews.

Knockers are dashing out of the door at the moment. Such a pleasure to know that we're making a difference to so many who don't feel as confident in their skin as they should.

Neonatal wards always appreciate items we send. We have had some truly emotional messages from parents who have benefitted from receiving something we've provided.

Breast cancer & surgical wards benefit from our pressure relief pillows, PICC line covers & Drain bags, with items being provided to their patients to make their experience just that little more comfortable.

We have provided blankets for elderly and babies, dog coats, hats, toiletries and many other items to all those who have been so dreadfully effected by this greedy invasion into Ukraine. we have sent over 3 boxes of items to help those who have had to leave everything behind. Thinking of you all at this time. As a testament to our group success we hope to be updating next time to let you know of our new charity status!!!... yes, with your support, we have reached a threshold.....incredible!! thank you x

Updated Aug 2021

Well things are still going strong and in the last 6 months we have been able, with your amazing help to support many, many more people and our fantastic Stitchers have brought more ideas to the table with causes close to their hearts.

With your support, in the last 6 months, we have provided 1000's of items:

To hospital wards in our local area and around the country with over 80 packages. Supporting:

*General post op patients/ cancer wards, with PICC line protectors, pressure relief cushions and drain bags.

*Patients on their chemo journey, with PICC line protectors, Hats, Chemo packs.

*Poorly babies and neonatal wards with blankets, hats, canular covers, socks, angel pockets, bonding squares

We have provided ladies with over 1800 Knitted knockers and 900 Aquaknockers, post mastectomy.

70+ dog beds to local animal rescue centres.

Due to the success of our lanyards and badges during covid, have increased our range of hidden disability lanyards and provided information regarding our invisible disability items to many organisations and schools to help with the social stigma caused by unexpected behaviours.

We have also now launced our website, so for more information about us and what we do please visit us at:

www.oakleystitchers.org.uk

Updated Sept 2020

Thank you for your amazing generosity ... so far we have managed to cover our costs by raising almost £750 on this site and a further £400 from our local community via stalls, masks etc!!!!

Having found a desperate need for what we do, we are therefore continuing our work moving forward and still need your help to support us provide items Free to those who need our help.

Update Aug 2020

Oakley Stitchers were formed at the beginning of COVID19 in March 2020 when It was identified that there was a shortage of protective wear and scrubs available for our amazing front-line key workers

It was only meant to be a request for a few bits of surplus bedding! Purchasing material proved just too expensive to sustain…. especially when the level of need became apparent!

However, on posting a small request onto our local Facebook page, an incredible response was received from all over Oakley, our neighbouring communities and beyond! The reaction was truly mind-blowing.

Support arrived in the shape of; offers of help from, Stitchers, knitters, non-sewers, cutters etc. Donations of fabric, money and other accessories came in, helping with postage and other costs to make this happen, for so many.

We then realised that due to the amount of need out there, we would need support to get the items we made to the staff and organisations who were literally crying for help! Welcome to our just giving page.

With all of this in place, it meant we could provide items FREE to the people requesting our help.

Oakley Stitchers were born! We now have over 60 active Stitchers and over 120 members on our Facebook page and many more who have donated via our just giving page. we really couldn't have done this without everyone being on board and so amazingly generous.

To show how immense the task has been….. since the end of March... Oakley Stitchers have provided over 900 sets of scrubs. Knitted, cut, crocheted and stitched over 4000 hats, masks, washbags and ear protectors to over 200 hospitals, care homes, assessment centres, prisons, Doctors surgeries and individuals throuought the U.K.

To date with the generosity of people like you donating to us, we have raised over £700, which has got us to where we are now. we have also had two local stalls at summer events and have supported local businesses as they gingerly open their doors by locating boxes of our masks to hopefully increase footfall.

As if this wasn't enough...We have also instigated a trial alongside the dementia team at Frimley Hospital to identify comforters to dementia patients who have really struggled during COVID. If it goes well… this could go nationwide!

We are also very proud to have received recognition from Basingstoke Mayor for the efforts we have achieved... it has all been truly a fabulous experience.

We have been supplying hand made washable masks to our local community for a small donation, which has enabled us to support our local foodbank and homeless charities with masks to keep our most vulnerable members of our community as safe as possible. This does not look to be ending anytime soon sadly.

As things start to become more settled (fingers crossed) and the desperation for some of the items we have been creating to slows down (at least for the time being!) … we asked the Stichers..... what next? The overwhelming feedback received from everyone involved, has remained consistent. No one wants it to stop!

In response to this and a cry for help from a cancer specialist nurse, we have been working on new exciting ventures. We have recently become affiliated with ‘Knitted Knockers’ (a soft alternative knitted prosthetic) and are now creating these alongside drain bags for individual cancer survivors and our local Basingstoke cancer unit. Knitted cannula holders, hats and blankets for premature babies. And, bandanas, headscarves, care packages and caps for those beginning a chemotherapy journey.

This is where you come in. We could not have achieve all we have or will do without the generosity of donations. Thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of the team involved in making this happen. Any amount is gratefully received and will be used carefully to ensure every penny is used to support someone who is in need of assistance or our help. Thank you!

Oakley Stitchers are here to stay and if you have a cause you think we would be able to help with or would like further information about our Knitted Knockers or anything else, please contact us on oakleystitchers@yahoo.com or knockers@oakleystitchers.org.uk

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for opening our just giving page and supporting the work we are doing. we could not do it without the generosity you provide with your donation.

Stay safe and know we are here

Oakley Stitchers x

Original post March 2020

So many carers, doctors, nurses, medical staff are desperate for not only PPE but clothing to protect themselves, each other and their families from this virus.
This is a small group of amazing people desperate to help.
We are recycling material where possible to make scrubs, gowns, hats, headbands and masks, however we need to raise money to cover postage and some some of the additional materials, such as cord, cotton, elastic, buttons etc
We would appreciate your help to sew but failing that.. by donating what you can to help us send our finished clothing to our front line workers.

Update:
We have surpassed all expectations with the generosity and support of so many amazing people! This has resulted in us needing to increase our target to help keep our 60+ sewers sewing!!

Our feedback from the front line workers has been truly humbling! Thank you all for your support and help in whatever way you can.
Stay safe all!