Community Wool Donations & Close at Heart | Sylvian Care Swindon

At Sylvian Care, compassion sits at the centre of everything we do - and recently, our incredible Swindon team saw that compassion echoed back by the local community in the most incredible way. 

A Local Lady Making a Difference 

One of our clients we support in Swindon is approaching her 90th birthday. For several years, she has dedicated her time to knitting blankets for end-of-life patients at their local hospital. 

In the last 18 months alone, she has knitted over 900 blanket squares. 

Recently, our Swindon Care Manager noticed a growing pile of completed squares during a visit. 

“I’ve enjoyed watching our client knit away for a couple of years now. The last time I visited her, I saw this large pile of knitted squares and asked what they were for. When she explained, I said - well, let’s see what we can do about that. I asked if she’d mind if I reached out to the community on Facebook, and she agreed straight away.” 

With wool prices rising, it was costing over £40 to complete a single blanket.

Despite these high costs as well as recent health challenges and hospital visits, her determination to keep knitting never faded. 

So the team put out a call for donations of double knit wool. 

Within hours, messages flooded in. 

“Within a few hours, we were inundated with responses. We even spent a couple of hours driving around collecting donations. We expected people might offer one or two balls of wool — we were amazed by how much everyone gave. The generosity has been incredible. I think the photo of our lady surrounded by the donations shows exactly what it meant to her. We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone again.”

What began as a simple appeal quickly became something much bigger - an overwhelming show of community kindness. 

Thanks to that generosity, she can continue doing what she loves most: knitting blankets that bring comfort to others. 

How Close at Heart Was Born 

While the wool donations were gathering momentum, another thoughtful initiative was beginning to form within the team. 

‘While our client knits the blankets, the idea for the knitted hearts came from a different, deeply personal experience.

One of our office team members had recently received a knitted heart when a family member passed away in hospital. It was a small gesture, but one that meant a great deal.’

As a team, they reflected: 

Why isn’t there something like this for families going through end-of-life care at home? 

That conversation led to the creation of Close at Heart. 

‘Our lady kindly donated smaller balls of yarn to help us get started, and a small knitting group quickly formed - made up of our own families. Our CEO’s daughter, my own sister, and I are all involved (I’m currently learning, with plenty of help from my sister!). Swindon Big Knit also generously donated several hearts to help launch the initiative.’

Introducing ‘Close at Heart’

Close at Heart is a simple gesture offered to families when someone is nearing the end of life at home. 

As shared in our Close at Heart card, which will accompany the hearts being distributed: 

“One heart is for your loved one. 
One heart is for you. 
Though they may rest in different hands, 
they remain forever connected.” 

When someone is approaching the end of their journey, we offer two small knitted hearts - one stays with their loved one, and one is given to family or friends to keep. 

This is, at it’s heart, about offering something tangible at a time when words can be hard to find. 

Our Care Manager reflects: 

“We’ve kicked ourselves wondering why we didn’t think of this sooner. We’ve all experienced loss ourselves and have supported people at the end of their journey when no one else has been around. We hope the hearts bring comfort and connection, and give people something small to cherish — a token of love to keep.” 

Importantly, the hearts are not limited to people supported by Sylvian Care. 

“You don’t have to be supported by us to receive a heart. Anyone is welcome to get in touch, and we can arrange delivery or collection.” 

More Than Care 

We are incredibly proud of our Swindon team for recognising an opportunity to make a difference and turning it into something meaningful for the people they support and the wider community. Their compassion, initiative and commitment truly reflect what Sylvian Care stands for.

If you’re looking for compassionate home care in Swindon, our local team would be happy to speak with you about how we can support you or your loved one.

Alternatively, you can search for your nearest Sylvian Care service on our website to find trusted home care support in your area.

Because at Sylvian Care, care is always personal - and always close to heart.