Hats off to knitters as Big Knit raises nearly £1 million

Hats off to the nation's knitters as Big Knit raises nearly £1 million for people in later life

More than 625,000 hats knitted in 2010 to help keep older people warmer this winter.

Knitters throughout the country have knitted more than 2.2million little woollen hats for The Big Knit since 2004.

Keen knitters have raised nearly £1 million for Age UK by knitting 2.2 million little bobble hats since the launch of The Big Knit initiative in 2004. The Big Knit, supported by innocent drinks, gets knitters throughout the country making little woollen hats which adorn innocent smoothie bottles in November each year. For each bottle sold wearing a hat, a donation is made to Age UK.

Last year (2010) marked the seventh year of the campaign and saw avid knitters creating over 625,000 individual hats in the shape of animals, cartoon characters and the latest fashions, raising over £177,000 to help people in later life this winter. Hatted bottles were sold in Sainsburys and Boots shops across the country with 25p donated to Age UK for every one sold. Too many older people are suffering and dying needlessly in winter due to lack of warmth, so Age UK created Spread the Warmth to help tackle the issue. The money raised through the 2010 Big Knit will go towards funding local and national winter projects by providing information, advice and practical services to help older people keep warm and well in the colder winter months.

Paul Farthing, Director of Fundraising at Age UK, said: 'The Big Knit is a flagship fundraising event for Age UK and its success and popularity continues to grow year on year. I would like to say a huge ‘thank you' to all of the knitters who have helped make The Big Knit 2010 such a success and a special thank you to the supporters who get involved year after year.'

Sir Roger Moore, actor and supporter of The Big Knit, commented: 'The Big Knit is a fun and creative way of raising the profile of the hardship many older people face in winter. The number of hats knitted and the money raised shows how much people enjoy The Big Knit, which is fantastic for the Charity and for the older people who benefit.'

Emma Hines from innocent said: 'This campaign couldn't happen without the support of thousands of amazing people across the UK who take part - we are so grateful to them, and so excited to be able to support the great work that Age UK does.'

Age UK and innocent are asking people to recycle their old knitted hats by posting them to ‘Hats Reunited', innocent drinks, Fruit Towers, 1 The Goldhawk Estate, Brackenbury Road, London, W6 0BA so that they can be reused next year to help raise even more money for people in later life.

Age UK's new Spread the Warmth campaign runs throughout the winter and focuses on helping older people stay warm, as well as reminding neighbours and friends of what they can do to help. Age UK can help by providing advice, support and practical services to cope with issues like heating, health and human contact. There are many ways in which people can get involved in the campaign, from making a much needed donation to looking out for older people in the community. People can make a donation simply by calling 0800 169 87 87 or visiting www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk

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Notes to Editors

About Age UK

Age UK works in partnership with Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI. For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office:.Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is inspired by the belief that it can improve the lives of people in later life. It celebrates ageing and believes it presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges at home and abroad. Age UK will challenge ageist prejudice in society, provide services that address market failures and support the public and private sectors to design age-friendly products and services. It will support people to remain in their own homes through campaigning and practical services and its Information and Advice service will offer millions of people support on a range of issues from claiming benefits to staying fit and healthy.

Age UK will fund biomedical research that helps tackle the ill health and poor quality of life that are too common as people age. Working with over 350 partners across the country, Age UK helps influence local decisions and delivers the most appropriate services. Its network of over 475 shops will act as a focal point for the local community, providing information and help with local services. Age UK works across the globe as well as in the UK, with its international partner, Help Age International, championing older people's rights and needs and as an active member of the DEC.

About innocent

innocent is the UK and Europe's favourite smoothie company, selling natural healthy products in over 13 countries and employing over 220 people across Europe. Innocent's mission is to make it easy for people to do themselves some good and to make it taste good too. In addition to 100% pure fruit smoothies, their successful latest products - orange juice and veg pots - fit with their mission of getting natural healthy products to as many people as possible. As a business, innocent want to leave things better than they find them. This is reflected in everything they do, from sourcing their fruit from farms with higher social and environmental standards to developing the world's first 100% recycled plastic bottle to donating 10% of profits to charity.

Media contact: Ashley Cox
Tel: 020 8765 7513
Out-of-hours: 07071 243 243