Random Acts Of Knitting’ To Be Enjoyed Throughout August

Leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Chichester office is ‘yarn bombing’ an area outside their offices to raise awareness and funds for their Charity of the Year, Dementia Support.

From Wednesday 7 August to 6 September, the office’s Knit and Natter group are decorating the streets with their handiwork. Railings have been adorned with knitted panels depicting an English country garden, benches have monster feet, bollards benefit from flowery legwarmers and trees and planters are decorated with forget-me-not flowers.

The aim is to encourage visitors to find out more about Dementia Support’s Sage House, who offer services and facilities for people living with dementia, their families and carers in the West Sussex area.

After weeks of preparation the latest results of their efforts can be seen outside their office at the Friary Lane car park and can be enjoyed throughout August, into early September.

Yarn bombing is a form of street art that substitutes paint or chalk for colourful displays of yarn. The idea came from team assistant and keen knitter Mandy Wearne, with the group meeting every week to knit the display.

Mandy Wearne, team assistant in Irwin Mitchell’s Chichester office, said: “A very big thank you to everyone involved, from the knitters to the office management who have sponsored our team with wool and provided the marketing support from our Chichester and Southampton offices as well as friends and family.

“We have had a great time imagining the end product and you can see our creative ideas also include French knitting with snails, sun, rainbows and bees. We hope visitors leave with a smile on their face and knowing more about the amazing work of Dementia Support throughout our region.”

This is not the first time the Knit and Natter group’s work has been seen in Chichester. In 2018 the group took part in the Big Poppy appeal, donating over 200 crocheted poppies marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, resulting in a stunning window display on North Street, before the poppies were donated to the Royal British Legion.

The team also knitted 40 twiddle muffs to occupy the restless hands that dementia patients can experience which were donated to Sage House and their next project will be twiddle blankets.

This is the third successive year the Chichester office of Irwin Mitchell has nominated Dementia Support as their Charity of the Year. The office raised £11,796 for the West Sussex arm of the charity in 2018.

Sarah Vickery, head of fundraising at Dementia Support’s Sage House said: “Irwin Mitchell have been a fantastic partner supporting us for the third year. Their yarn bomb idea is fantastic and brightens up the space outside their offices greatly. Raising awareness of dementia is vital and having corporate partners like Irwin Mitchell help us to do that and raise funds at the same time is just brilliant.”

People can support the knitters by giving a donation to Dementia Support at Irwin Mitchell’s office throughout the month or by visiting the team’s Total Giving page: www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/theknittedgarden