THE Big Knit, a fantastic fundraiser in aid of Shelter Scotland, has proved to be a major international success for the second year running.
Held during Scottish music legend Dougie MacLean’s Perthshire Amber Festival last month, the total raised was £1,550.
This innovative fundraiser got knitting enthusiasts from around the world clacking their knitting needles to make squares for a luxurious giant blanket.
The finished article was then stitched together by Dougie MacLean’s mother, Dolly, and auctioned at the festival.
This year, the blanket was auctioned for a fantastic £650, with the generous winning bid coming from Teun van de Wardt from Apeldoorn in Holland. Edradour Distillery has kindly promised to match this amount as it did last year.
Hand-knitted hats also sold like hot cakes at the festival to contribute to the grand total.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity, said:
“This is a fantastic amount raised through the Big Knit and we want to say a big thank you to all the knitters involved, and for the generosity of Teun van de Wardt and Edradour Distillery.
“We would also like to say a very special thank you to Dougie and Jenny MacLean for all their hard work and efforts and especially to Dolly MacLean for her absolutely wonderful handiwork.
“We really appreciate the support of everyone involved in the Big Knit. All funds raised will go towards Shelter Scotland’s work to help the thousands of families across Scotland facing housing issues and to put an end to homelessness.”
Jenny MacLean, director of the Perthshire Amber Festival, said:
“We are very proud to support Shelter Scotland’s important work and are really pleased with the success of this year’s Big Knit.
“We were delighted that people all over the world, as well as festival-goers in Perthshire, knitted squares to make up the Shelter Scotland blanket. Not only was it great fun for everyone involved, but knitters were supporting a very worthwhile charity at the same time.
“We were equally thrilled to be described this year as ‘the festival with the giving heart’… we think that’s a lovely reputation to have so we’re already thinking of other imaginative ways of encouraging folk to give of their time and energy to the charities our festival supports!”
Ends/
Notes to Editors:
1. Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity. Shelter Scotland believes that everyone should have a home. We help people find and keep a home. We campaign for decent housing for all.
2. Go to http://www.perthshireamber.com/ to find out more about the Big Knit and Perthshire Amber festival.
3. Pictures are available on request.
4. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.
5. For more information about Shelter Scotland visit www.shelter.org.uk
6. Follow Shelter Scotland on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/shelterinscotland
Twitter – http://twitter.com/shelterscotland
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Shelter Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Neil Baldwin, Nicola Baxter
Phone: 0844 515 2442
Website: http://www.shelter.org.uk
