A Rainbow on the Road!
The People’s Friend’s colourful yarn-bombed bus has hit the streets to let the UK’s older generations know that the nation is behind them…
We’ve clapped for our carers, we’ve cheered children with rainbows and now knitters from across the UK are sending a message of friendship to our older generations – with a yarn bombed bus hitting the road to deliver a colourful pick-me-up to anyone experiencing loneliness due to the pandemic.
The People’s Friend, in partnership with friendship charity, Re-engage, and the UK’s biggest bus and coach operator, Stagecoach, has launched a colourful knitted bus to tour the length of the country to show older generations that the nation is behind them – as many continue to shield or feel the effects of the pandemic on their social lives. Loneliness is at a high amongst this demographic, and the bus’s visit coincides with new restrictions placed on care home visitors.
Helping the Call Companions service
The nation’s knitters have sent in hundreds of hand-made bunting triangles to adorn the bus, which will deliver magazines and knitting to care homes, as well as collect funds for Re-engage’s new telephone befriending service ‘Call Companions’. The service was launched in response to Covid-19 to offer free, friendly, and regular calls to ensure that those most vulnerable to isolation remain connected to the outside world.
Angela Gilchrist, Editorial Director of The People’s Friend, said, “Smiles have been in short supply for all of us this year, but especially so for those who live alone or who have been missing close contact with family and loved ones. We know that life is better when shared with a friend, so we decided to enlist the help of our hundreds of knitters across the UK to cheer up everyone who may be feeling lonely or downhearted right now.
Our colourful bus is sure to brighten the day of anyone who sees it. And I believe it sends a message of hope, too, that even when times are tough, we can all share moments of joy.
Re-engage CEO, Meryl Davies, said, “The Covid-19 crisis has intensified feelings of loneliness for many older people who have really struggled without regular social contact. We hope that older people who see The People’s Friend Yarn-Bombed bus will be reminded that they are not alone, and will get in touch with us to be matched with a volunteer with similar interests for regular, free calls.”
See the bus in the home of The People’s Friend on Sept 26
The People’s Friend Yarn-Bombed Bus started its tour in Torquay, followed by Barnsley (September 22), then Cumbria (September 24) with its final stop on Saturday September 26 in Dundee – the home of The People’s Friend for the last 150 years.
To donate to Re-engage, please visit www.reengage.org.uk/donate, and keep up to date with info on social channels #CloseKnitFriends.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
