A kind-hearted group of volunteers have knitted their way into this week’s Charity Champion top spot, after hitting the amazing milestone of raising over £75,000 for Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity. 

The group of over 70 dedicated knitters spend their spare time creating beautiful handmade garments - including hats, cardigans, blankets and much more - all of which are sold at Birmingham Women’s Hospital to patients, families and visitors.  

The money raised from the sales is then donated to the hospital’s Neonatal and Maternity Departments, plus other projects. The Neonatal Department provides care to babies born prematurely, with low birth weight or who have a medical condition that requires specialist treatment, whilst the Maternity Department, which is one of the busiest in the UK, delivers over 8,000 babies every year.  

The knitting group are familiar faces to staff and visitors and have become a much-loved member of the hospital family, selling their wares every Wednesday. In addition, they have taken on many extra projects to support the hospital, including knitting a fetching festive outfit for the hospital’s bear statue last December which sits pride of place at the main entrance. After many years of knitting, the group has hit the tremendous milestone of reaching a phenomenal £75,000! 

Volunteer team leader, Margaret, said: “I am so proud of our incredible team of volunteers for all their hard work producing the high-quality items which we sell, our years of hard work have built up to this occasion and we are thrilled. We have loved turning our hobby into a way to help others.” 

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity, said: “Volunteers are the backbone of the NHS and certainly this is true at our Women’s Hospital.  They are so kind and selfless and have built a community to then help others. Hitting £75,000 is a fantastic achievement and really the icing on the cake. The legacy they have built for the women, babies and families we care for will make a big difference.” 

The knitters hitting their £75,000 milestone is timed beautifully with the 75th anniversary of the NHS on Wednesday 5 July. To help celebrate this occasion and show thanks to this British institution – as well as our wonderful hospital – Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is asking the public to consider fundraising for the hospital, so it can support the work of its incredible staff and can continue to transform lives for many more years to come.