PLEASE READ. We have sadly had to make the decision to put our Chernobyl 2021 project on ice….

Our Chernobyl Project 2020. It was no surprise but still devastating to learn that it would not be possible for the ‘Chernobyl’ children to visit the UK for respite holidays in 2020, that is all except for one group who visited Portsmouth and had planned all along to come in March. It was an absolute joy, even more so now looking back to meet them and give them their blankets.

Our target for 2020 had been 175 Chernob blankets, most of which are in secure storage waiting for it to be possible to get to the children. Sadly 2021 is up in the air at the moment, understandably, these children are already more vulnerable health wise. It just may not be possible to bring them over, or for Link organisers to even get over there. We have had to make the decision to put our Chernobyl 2021 project on ice. It is sad for sure but needs to be. We will use this year’s blankets first as soon as poss, and hopefully later in the year we will have a better idea.

The project will be back, we are just not sure when. 

It was beyond wonderful for us to visit Belarus in April 2019, meet again some of the children who had come to the UK (Bristol) in 2018 and see our Chernobyl blankets in their homes, just a few of these below. We could see how treasured and loved they were and it renewed our energy and passion for this project.

A reminder of why we do what we do is at the bottom.

The groups we have previously sent our blankets to….

Not all groups host every year, but these are the groups we have helped so far, and aim to continue to do so.

• Aberdeen
• Ayrshire
• Bristol
• Chet and Waveney (Norfolk)
• Dublin
• Fife
• Gloucester/Glossop (children split their trip between these two)
• Isle of Wight
• Mid Glamorgan
• Mid Suffolk
• Northamptonshire (Helpston)
• Portsmouth
• Shropshire
• St Ives
• Swindon
• Yeovil and Sherborne

Crafting info will be as before once we can restart.

Squares. We need SQUILLIONS of twelve inch squares in the Stylecraft Special DK palette as in photo and listed at the bottom of the page, if 12 is too much, 6 inch squares are fine too, just this yarn in these colours please, inc for embellishments so the blankets come together and are consistent for wash and wear. Knit and crochet equally welcome, beginner or expert, as simple or complex as you like, single colour, multi colour. Design of square up to you, but not too lacy, they need to be hardy. Please use a 4mm hook or needles. If sizing is a challenge with your pattern/tension, we prefer them just under sized rather than over!

SO IMPORTANT! Please ensure you knot off every end/colour change very very securely, leave approx a 6 inch tail end and use a needle to sew in. These blankets have to be super sturdy as there is no way back to fix them if squares collapse. All ends must be sewn in.

SQUARES TO BE POSTED TO SOUTHSEA PLEASE

Whole blankets We know some crafters love to make their own whole blankets and this is wonderful! We ask you message us to let us know, so we have some idea of numbers of squares needed. Please use SSDK. Finished blanket size remains the same at 48inches by 60 inches, and please work within the colour palette as this makes it much easier when blankets are gifted. If circumstances change and you can no longer make a whole blanket, LET US KNOW! Thank you so so much x

WHOLE BLANKETS TO BE POSTED TO TEDDINGTON PLEASE.

The Palette

• Aspen
• Aster
• Bluebell
• Boysenberry
• Bright pink
• Candy floss
• Citron
• Claret
• Cloud blue
• Cornish Blue
• Cypress
• Denim
• Duck egg
• Emperor
• Empire
• Fondant
• Fuchsia pink
• Grape
• Grass green
• Kelly green
• Lapis
• Lavender
• Lime
• Lipstick
• Lobelia
• Magenta
• Meadow
• Mustard
• Pale Rose
• Parchment
• Petrol
• Pistachio
• Plum
• Pomegranate
• Raspberry
• Saffron
• Sage
• Sherbert
• Shrimp
• Spearmint
• Spice
• Storm blue
• Teal
• Tomato
• Turquoise
• Violet

Ice Cream funds. If you would like to add 50p in when you post squares/blankets for ice creams that would be so kind, we will split any money we receive between the groups.

Extras for the children. 

There are a few extras which we will be collecting too alongside squares, items which really help, if you would like to add in any of these we would love to receive them for the children, thank you, bless you. We have spoken with all groups receiving this year about what they would like and have an adapted list of extras, please note, no shampoo, shower gel this year. We will be adding some of these things to our Amazon wish-list if that helps.

• New underwear, pants/socks boys and girls, age 8-12
• Children’s Gloves
• High factor suncream
• Toothbrushes, single packed please
• Toothpaste
• Hairbrushes
• Bars of soap, wrapped as singles.
• Sanitary towels
• Plasters
• Insect bite pens
• Cold sore cream
• Lip balms
• Small tubes or tubs of Sudacrem
• Children’s vitamins
• Vegetable seeds (tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, beetroot, gherkins)
• Menthol type cough lozenges
• Big and strong long life shopping bags
• Tea and instant coffee, packets please
• Any little luxuries that 8-12 year olds might love, eg nail varnish, fun stationery, temporary tattoos, little toys with LEDs, mini torches,  , hair clips, make up bits, mini lego kits, fun/brightly coloured sunglasses, stickers  etc.

Donating funds

We are always very grateful to anyone who would like to donate funds for this project. Please do inc your name so we can thank you properly.

Our Paypal is admin@woollyhugs.com

Bank transfer

• We are a Cooperative account in the name of Woolly Hugs
• • Account number: 65579631
• • Sort code: 089299

Any funds raised from our Spring/Easter sale 2020 will be used to support this project.

Hugs for Heads

After the success last year, we thought how lovely it would be to send all children a cosy hat to take home with their blanket this year, so introduced Hugs for Heads, if you would like to knit or crochet a cosy child’s hat size age 12 to adult in machine washable yarn, we would love to receive it for them. The pattern is up to you., we do have yarn available, please message us.

For anyone who needs, just a quick reminder about the project!

For the last few years we have been making warm, comforting Little Hugs for Belarusian and Ukrainian teenagers and children visiting the UK for recuperative holidays during the summer with the fabulous charity the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, Chernobyl Children’s Project and the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children. Each year these marvellous charities bring children who live in the most contaminated area near the Chernobyl reactor over to the UK. In summer, when the dust causes radiation levels to rise, it becomes even more important for as many children as possible to leave their homeland for a few weeks of fresh air and clean food. The rates of childhood cancer are incredibly high and often visiting children are in remission. Sadly though there is a high chance of these children falling ill again. They all suffer living in such difficult conditions and with very little. It is a lovely thing for us to do to make these children a special cuddly blanket to take home. One child last year said to his interpreter it was like having a big hug from his Gran. Beautiful.

Thank you so much everyone!