Latest News: Cots for Tots

Our annual Knitter’s Tea Party for volunteer knitters is always one of our favourite events – full of tea, cake and friendship – but this year, we had an extra-special reason to celebrate.

Our 2024 Knitter’s Tea Party was a fantastic day spent at Cots for Tots House, which houses families with babies in St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

The day, which we’ve held annually since 2016, celebrates our wonderful group of volunteer knitters who knit all sorts of creations to be sold on NICU nurse Emma’s fundraising stall. These talented people spend their time and money knitting beautiful blankets, clothes and soft toys for Emma to sell, and it’s so important to us to show our gratitude.

We welcomed over 25 people through the doors of Cots for Tots House for a tea party complete with cakes from our friends at Cakesmiths, biscuits, tea and coffee. The house was even decorated for the occasion with banners, bunting and balloons! 

The tea party is a great chance for knitters, Cots for Tots staff and NICU nurse Emma to catch up and discuss the importance of supporting sick babies in NICU, as well as to bond over a shared passion. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for us to update them on what’s new on the unit and what the money from their knitting has helped fund. 

We were also extremely grateful to Fathima and Nissar, two Cots for Tots House residents, who gave a talk about their journey in St Michael’s NICU with their baby boy, Koffee. Their story was a first-hand reminder of just how vital it is to support the unit like our wonderful knitters do.

Celebrating NICU nurse Emma

We also took the chance to celebrate Emma. 

When Emma isn’t changing little lives in St Michael’s NICU, she spends her free time running a fundraising stall and eBay shop, selling knitted creations.  

Emma has been fundraising for us tirelessly for 12 years – and just a couple of weeks ago, she hit her mammoth £50,000 milestone! To celebrate, we took Emma up in Wallace & Gromit’s Moon Rocket hot air balloon for a once-in-a-lifetime ride.

Book your own flight

Soar through the skies in Wallace & Gromit’s Moon Rocket hot air balloon and proceeds will support the South West’s sickest children.

Book my flight

At the tea party, we also presented her with a card, fundraising certificate and a plant, celebrating this achievement with the wonderful people who helped make it possible. 

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Knitter’s Tea Party, and for your continued support – we can’t wait to see you all again in 2025. 

If you’re interested in knitting for us and would like some pointers on how to post to us for free and what items we do and don’t accept, email Josie.

Community Fundraising Assistant

Josie Thomas

Josie works closely with our amazing knitters, who knit items that NICU Nurse Emma sells on her fundraising stall, raising money for sick babies. If you set up a Facebook fundraiser, you’ll hear from Josie, personally thanking you for your support. She supports the rest of the community fundraising team by sending out various resources to our fabulous fundraisers. 

If you’d like to learn more about donating knitted items, contact Josie.

josie@grandappeal.org.uk

0117 927 3888