'Get your woollies out,' says Age UK!

With just a few weeks to go until Bobble Day (10 February), Age UK is asking people to resurrect their winter woollies, wear them with pride, and donate £2 to their school or workplace to help vulnerable older people this winter.

According to new research revealed today by Age UK, almost half of people in the UK (47 per cent) have received a woolly present for Christmas that they have never worn or only worn once or twice.

With just a few weeks to go until Bobble Day (10 February) - Age UK's annual fundraising event to help older people in winter - we are asking people to resurrect their winter woollies, wear them with pride, and donate £2 to their school or workplace on Bobble Day.

The survey also shows that:

• Almost a quarter (22 per cent) of women have received a woolly present that has never been worn
• Nearly a fifth (17 per cent) of UK adults put the last woolly present they received at the back of their wardrobe or in the bottom of a drawer and haven't taken it out since
• Over a third (36 per cent) of men have been given a winter woolly that they have only worn once or twice.

Despite these figures, wacky woollen items have enjoyed a recent renaissance with online retailers reporting a huge 600% increase in sales of festive knits compared to last year, so why not wrap up in your most colourful and crazy knits on 10 February? The fashion-forward could even team neon legwarmers with stripy jumpers, giant jumper dresses with woolly socks, and even create matching outfits for pets!

A fun day to raise money for a serious issue

The money raised will go to Age UK's Spread the Warmth campaign to help keep older people warm and well during what can be extremely difficult winter months for thousands across the country.

Paul Farthing, Fundraising Director at Age UK, said: 'Bobble Day will give the nation a chance to get creative with their winter knits. We're calling on everyone to find their inner-fashionista and to finish off their woolly outfit with a colourful bobble - available from an Age UK shop or Wilkinson store - to show their support for ending needless suffering for older people in winter.

Farthing continued, underlining what Bobble Day is all about. He said, 'Bobble Day is definitely a chance to have fun, but there is a serious issue at its heart: 200 older people die needlessly every day in winter due to the cold. While Christmas is over and thoughts turn to the spring ahead, February is often one of the coldest months of the year and many older people will be suffering. By getting involved in Bobble Day you can help us change this.'

Get involved!

So get behind this season's woolly craze and join the pack of celebrities who've been seen sporting festive knits this season, with Justin Bieber donning a red and white snowflake woollen jumper, Fearne Cotton rocking a reindeer knit, Matt Damon wearing a jumper complete with 3D santa heads, and Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield presenting This Morning in their winter woollies.

Bobble Day is easy to get involved in and you really will be helping to prevent needless suffering for older people in winter. The money raised will go towards Age UK's Spread the Warmth campaign which helps us to provide information, advice and practical services to help people in later life during the colder months.

People can buy bobbles from their local Age UK shop or Wilkinson store for a suggested donation of £1. More exciting fundraising ideas for Bobble Day can be found at www.ageuk.org.uk/bobbleday or call 0800 169 87 87.

And don't forget to share your stories and pictures of your woolly antics on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/ageuk or Twitter, using the hashtag #BobbleDay.