We caught up with Jinty, a Community Worker in East Perthshire, working for Perth and Kinross Council.
During lockdown earlier this year, she began thinking about how her local community could show their support for people fleeing persecution and war. She put out a call-out for people to crochet a square, which could then be put together into a blanket as a gift to new members of their community.
The idea clearly captured the hearts of East Perthshire. She received over 3,000 squares.
In the summer, following the crisis in Afghanistan and news that people would be resettled in nearby Perth, Jinty and a team of volunteers gathered the squares into bags of 54 and began working to turn them into blankets. They have made over 30 blankets so far.
A small number of families have now been resettled from Afghanistan in Perth. The blankets will be gifted to their children alongside other tokens of welcome from local community groups.
Afghan families are not the only new members of the community in Perth this year. Other blankets are being appreciatively received by unaccompanied young people and young people leaving care as they make their homes in the area.
Communities play a vital role in supporting new arrivals to settle in and find their feet. We are delighted to see that, in these difficult times, that the people of East Perthshire are so keen to offer a warm welcome to people who have sought safety here.
Find out more about our work with communities.
Do you have a story from your community you’d like us to share? Contact our Storytelling Officer.
