Volunteers knit blankets for those less fortunate this Christmas

Volunteers have spent a combined 2,150 hours – nearly 90 days – knitting and crocheting blankets for those less fortunate this Christmas.

The annual project, which started in 2020, is run by Caerphilly Miners’ Centre – the community hub which opened in 2015 on the site of the former Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital.

This year, more than 60 blankets have been donated to charitable causes in Caerphilly County Borough thanks to the scheme.

Each blanket is made from 25 crocheted squares – which take around 25 hours each to knit. It then takes a further ten or so hours to knit the squares together to make a blanket.

A number of crocheted squares were sent in by volunteers from across South Wales and further afield, with many sent in anonymously.

Volunteers then sort the squares into batches for crocheting, before labelling and packing the blankets.

The scheme started as a way to keep people connected during the Covid pandemic and has continued long after the lifting of restrictions.

This year, the blankets were donated to Caerphilly-based domestic abuse and homelessness charity Llamau, as well as the Warm Spaces project, which is run by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Caerphilly Cares team.

As well as this, the Miners’ Centre has also collected a big bag of toiletries, which were donated to it by the community and Asda Caerphilly, to give to Llamau to use in its welcome packs.

Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member Hefin David presented the blankets to Llamau and Caerphilly Cares on behalf of the Miners’ Centre on Friday, November 25.

He said: “The effort and dedication put in to each of the blankets is just amazing, they’re like a symbol of everything the Miners’ Centre stands for.

“It’s a pleasure to be involved and to hear more about the groups the blankets will be going to.”

Meanwhile, more than £700 was raised by the Miners’ Centre at its fundraising concert on Saturday, November 19, in aid of Save the Children’s Ukraine appeal.

The concert saw performances from Caerphilly Male Voice Choir, accompanied by Jo Jones and directed by Nerys Porch, who also performed solo on the night.

There was also a solo from Lietta, while Ukrainian singers Olena, Diana and Darya also performed.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the centre has built a strong relationship with Ukrainian refugees in Caerphilly.

Since the summer, the centre has hosted an English speaking group for Ukrainians, as well as Balkan dancing sessions and a children’s reading group.

During its summer fair, nearly £500 was raised to help buy train tickets for Ukrainians fleeing the war.