Gunnedah Community Corrections staff and offenders have been busy knitting up a storm, creating blankets for local charities and people experiencing disadvantage.
Manager of the Gunnedah Community Corrections Office, Betty Stefanovic said the opportunity to learn a new skill, develop confidence and give back to the community had a positive effect on those completing Community Service Work.
“In the past few months we’ve worked with 10 offenders to teach them the basics of knitting and they’ve been creating squares that we sew together to make blankets,” Ms Stefanovic said.
“Although the program is new, we’ve noticed even in a short amount of time that both male and female offenders have been really proud of their efforts,” she said.
“There has been a real shift in their moods – they’ve really benefited from not only learning new skills from our community volunteers, but it has built up their self-confidence.”
Ms Stefanovic said one of the offenders was so happy with the program that she asked to come back as a volunteer once her Community Service Work order was finished.
The Office Manager said staff would love to see more members of the community join the knitting bees and share their knowledge and stories.
She said the Community Service Work team had partnered with the Salvation Army and local charities to deliver their completed blankets to people experiencing disadvantage.
“The group is really enjoying working together to create something beautiful and worthwhile,” Ms Stefanovic said.
“It has given them a real appreciation of what it means to be community-minded.”
She said anyone who wanted to volunteer or make wool donations could contact Gunnedah Community Corrections on (02) 6740 1001.