How Castlehaven's Women's Group is Making a Difference One Stitch at a Time

Every Tuesday at Castlehaven, women of all ages gather for our weekly women’s group to enjoy each other’s company and engage in creative activities. They’ve been knitting hats for premature babies and local organisations. We spoke to some of the women about their latest project, knitting blankets for local baby bank, Little Village, and to find what the Castlehaven women’s group means to them.

Denise (on the right), a former child protection social worker, retired early to care for her mother. With newfound free time, she explored her creative side by joining Castlehaven’s craft, knitting, and art groups. She praises Castlehaven for its kindness and inclusivity, noting that “everybody is welcome anytime to pop by and make themselves a cup of tea and join the activities.”

Thrilled to join the knitting group despite no prior experience, Denise found learning from scratch challenging but rewarding. She started with one square for a blanket and enjoyed it so much that she made several. She loves how the group supports a charitable cause and brings together women of all ages.

You feel like you're doing something for the community. It's just about giving back and meeting people.

Cynthia, who volunteers every week to teach the ladies how to knit, began knitting at 17. Although she only knew the basics at the time, she was knitting and pearling, eventually teaching herself to knit all sorts of things. “I would get frustrated at times. But if you like doing the thing, you know, you don’t give up; you stick with it.”

Rekindling her passion for knitting by teaching our women’s group, Cynthia has enjoyed sharing her skills, getting to know all the women, and seeing the finished pieces go to a good cause.

Anne, praised by the group as an exceptional knitter, suffers from dementia and hearing loss, which can make her feel isolated. Her daughter discovered Castlehaven’s women’s group and brings her every week. During the war, Anne’s father was in the army, leaving her with her mother and sister, and they passed the time by knitting.

Anne finds immense emotional support in the group. She appreciates the community, saying, “It’s lovely. Even if I am not hearing what they’re saying, I can hear them in the room, and we are together.” The group helps her combat isolation and memory issues through social interaction. “It beats being alone”.

Our women’s group takes place every Tuesday in our community hub from 11:30 am – 13:30 pm and is open to women of all ages. 

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