Quilty Hugs- The wonderful charity 'Quilts For Care Leavers'
Sophie Lombardi
Kids leaving care in the UK system face disproportionately poor outcomes in health, housing, education, and employment. 1 in 5 homeless people have been through the care system and 1 in 5 young care leavers spend time in prison. In response to these alarming facts, retired solicitor with experience in child protection, Maggie Lloyd Jones started ‘Quilts For Care Leavers’. She was inspired by poet Lemn Sissay who shared his strong desire for a hug when he left the care system. A quilt is there when you are cold, ill or need comfort. You can wrap yourself in it’s warmth and it can be a hug when you most need one (Elaine Mullen, quilter). Maggie has even designed a quilt that is the perfect size for a hug.
Image credit Lemn Sissay
Since 2018, Quilts for Care Leavers have gifted approximately 8,000 quilts to young people leaving care. They are presented at the Christmas Dinner for Care Leavers events, where each young person takes their time to choose their own beautiful and unique quilt. They are gifted anonymously and marked with a special affirmation to support the quilt’s custodian on their journey. Maggie remarks that the care leavers treasure the quilts and they are a symbol to vulnerable kids that people out in the world really do care about them.
The quilts are made by volunteers using donated fabrics. They are distributed throughout the UK and the charity is expanding far and wide. There are lots of different ways you can support Quilts For Carers from making a whole quilt, to creating a block for a quilt organised by members at the charity. All the details are provided over on the website Quilts For Carer Leavers and their active Facebook page. Here at Poppy and Honesty we will be donating a box of Liberty fabric pieces each month to this fantastic initiative.
Quilts are special. All of the tiny pieces of fabric form a little picture, a small work of art. Winter is the ideal time to get stitching so why not get in touch with Quilts for Carers and support their quilty hugs campaign.
For more information
Quilts for Care Leavers on Cafe Hope Radio 4
‘My Name is Why? by Lemn Sissay : an exploration of the UK care system.
