While I was writing my Christmas novella, A Lion Is Not Just For Christmas, I thought a lot about Christmas and what it means to me. It’s a time of joy, warmth, giving and togetherness, and of tolerance and forgiveness. Sadly it’s not like that for everyone. For many it equals isolation and desperation.

So, I was honoured and delighted when myself and two friends were approached by textile lecturer Gina Pierce from the London Metropolitan University and asked to knit a small section of a Big Blanket for the charity Crisis. We were given a pattern by the organiser, consisting of 24 squares of 25cm x 25cm, making a blanket measuring 100cm x 150cm in total.

Other knitters across London participated too, and when all the individual blankets were finished and handed in, they were laid out together to form a larger pixelated image.

This was done at Conway Hall on Red Lion Square, and the aim is to raise awareness of homelessness in the capital. The 50 blankets have since been distributed to the needy or homeless at various Crisis centres this Christmas, and the recipients are immensely grateful.

If you wish to support the charity, here is a link to their donation page:

Crisis: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

And here are two other charities who welcome support, particularly at Christmas:

St. Mungo’s: https://www.mungos.org/get-involved/donate/
Salvation Army: https://donate.salvationarmyappeals.org.uk/b/my-donation

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!