New-born babies in Banbury are being kept cosy and warm, thanks to a donation of hand-knitted hats and blankets by residents at a local care home.

Residents from the ‘Knit and Natter’ group at Care UK’s Highmarket House, on North Bar Place, got their pins and needles out to create a range of hats and blankets for babies in the special care unit of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital.

The team of ‘Knit and Natter’ members are dab hands at the hobby, having fashioned over 12 little hats and 25 cosy blankets to help keep the new-borns snug.

The bountiful supply was delivered to Christine Headford, family care coordinator at the hospital, by team members Wendy Cross and Caroline Tucker, alongside knitters Peggy Knowles and Marion Bellamy. The knitters were presented with badges from the SSNAP to thank them for their efforts.

Christine Headford commented: “We were so grateful to receive the donation of knitted hats and blankets from the talented ladies at Highmarket House. These will make a huge difference to the babies in the special care unit.”

Home manager at Highmarket House, Francine Summers, added: “Helping members of our local community is really important to us, and we are very proud to be helping the very latest arrivals at the maternity hospital. Our Knit and Natter group had a lot of fun making the hats and blankets, and Peggy Knowles and Marion Bellamy enjoyed taking them along - it was a very special delivery indeed!”

Highmarket House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia, nursing and short-term respite care. The home, which features 73 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café.

To find out more about Highmarket House care home, call 01295 297 652 or email Marisa Ramos, customer relations manager on marisa.ramos@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit: careuk.com/highmarket-house 

Issued for & on behalf of Care UK by WPR