Two groups, the charity, Friends of St Andrew’s Church Little Massingham - ‘FOSALM’ - and Quilts 4 Care Leavers - ‘Q4cl’ are working together on a massive project. FOSALM are organising the making of a giant quilted ‘Hug’, which will wrap around the circumference of St Andrew’s Church. The church desperately needs the comforting ‘Hug’ as, over a number of years thieves have stripped the lead from the roof. The mammoth, and very colourful quilt, will also raise money to restore the damaged roof. At the end of the project, Q4cl will divide the quilt into individual quilt ‘Hugs’ to give to young adults leaving the Care System.
Rosemary Jewers, a trustee of FOSALM, said: ‘In the first phase, we are hoping to recruit people willing to help make what will become an enormous colourful patchwork quilt. Where possible we are hoping the majority of the patchwork quilts will be made from or incorporate recycled materials. We are also asking for people who knit and crochet to become involved, as their knitting and crocheting can also be made into hugs. The Friends of St Andrew’s Church Little Massingham welcome anyone who can help. Each of the finished hugs - top sections of patchwork or working with wool - will be joined with others to make one enormous quilt to wrap around St Andrew’s Church, Little Massingham, giving it that much needed ‘Hug’!
Not only will the quilt highlight the plight of this rural church but it is hoped that it will raise the final part of the £122,000 required to finish the restoration of the roof. Once the quilt has hugged the church, it will be divided into individual quilt ‘Hugs’ to be given to some of the huge number of young adults who leave the Care System at 18. In some cases, these young people leave as early as 16.
Maggie Lloyd-Jones, the founder of Quilts 4 Care Leavers said:‘We are delighted to be working with FOSALM on this project. We founded Quilts 4 Care Leavers in 2018 for the simple purpose of providing a ‘quilted hug’ to care leavers aged between 16 and 25 who are living independently after their time in the local authority care system has come to an end.’
Rosemary Jewers said:‘The highly colourful quilt will raise money by offering people the chance to sponsor a quilt block or square. When donations are made any dedication messages will be preserved by adding them to a special memory book.’
The Friends of St Andrew’s Little Massingham - www.fosalm.org - are fundraising and organising this huge task. Quilts 4 Care Leavers www.Q4cl.org.uk will be distributing quilts to care leavers both within and near this community.
If anyone who wishes to help with this fantastic project they can do this by stitching sections of this mega Hug. To sponsor a square or two please go to https://fosalm.org/
