Intergenerational Knitting Group
A group of carers from St Helens reached out with their wartime reminiscences and craft skills to bring a new zest for learning to primary school children.
The cross-generational project was part of a library-led series of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War Two.Focusing on the ‘Home Front’, the project objectives were to teach children about wartime crafts, like knitting, and about childhood during the War. The schoolchildren got a great boost from the experience with schoolboy James, aged 10 from St Helens saying:
“Thank you for our fantastic knitting lesson at Parr Library. I learned dead fast. I am still knitting at home. I have made a scarf and a phone sock. Thank you again.”
As the women worked with the children teaching the lost skills of knitting and other crafts, one remarked, “we learned what it was like to be a child growing up today.” Another said working on the project had “increased our self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.”
Kathryn Boothroyd, Community Development Manager for the Library Service, said, “This project was a wonderful way to enhance children’s learning. Over 100 children have taken part so far. The carers have been great to work with and they have got as much out of the project as the children have.”