Royal Voluntary Service 80th Anniversary Dolly Campaign needs knitters

The finished knitted dollies will be sold with the aim of raising vital funds to support the work of the Royal Voluntary Service in this area.

The fundraising challenge is being supported by loveknitting.com who have donated some of the wool, and knitting groups from across the country are being encouraged to take part.

The dollies are knitted in Royal Voluntary Service colours, using a pattern specially crafted and donated by knitting designer, Claire Fairall.

Maria Jacobson, service manager for Dorset Home Library Service, said, “We are delighted to get involved in this knitting challenge for our 80th anniversary. We love knitting, so it is great to use our skills to raise funds to support our work locally. Not only that, but recent evidence suggests knitting is beneficial to a healthy mind and body. The volunteer dollies are really special and the pattern is fun to work from. After some of our volunteers commented, ‘They are lovely, but why are they not smiling?’ we decided to add a special Dorset smile – you can see the result!”

Royal Voluntary Service, originally founded in 1938 as the Women’s Voluntary Service, was formed by Stella Reading to help recruit women into the Air Raid Precautions movement and assist civilians during and after air-raids and help evacuate children. Since then the charity has evolved to tackle some of the biggest social challenges of the day and has inspired more than three million ordinary men and women to give their time to help others.

In 2018 Royal Voluntary Service is as relevant as ever and continues to inspire and enable people to give the gift of voluntary service to meet the needs of the day. Today, that’s principally helping people as they age to live healthier and happier lives and support the NHS.

Royal Voluntary Service has 25,000 dedicated volunteers, who help thousands of people each month in hospital, at home and in the community. From taking an older person to an appointment and serving tea in a busy NHS hospital to popping in to see an older person just home from hospital and running social activities for isolated older people, these volunteers do simple things which make a big difference.

Here in Dorset volunteers provide the Home Library Service; it is available free of charge to anybody who cannot easily get to their local library, and books and talking books are chosen and delivered every 3 weeks. Not only does it provide a regular supply of individually chosen books, but also a very welcome visit by a trusted volunteer. To find out more or apply to receive the service please contact Maria Jacobson (details below).

All proceeds from the sales of the dollies will go to support the work of the Royal Voluntary Service in our area.