Kirklees College students bring joy to Dementia Patients with Charity Twiddle Muffs

Project Twiddle Muff was launched during Dementia Action week 21st-27th May when Kirklees College’s Customer Service & Exams team appealed to staff and students across college to come forward to put their knitting and creative skills to good cause.

Twiddle Muffs have been developed especially for Dementia patients and have been shown to help ease agitation and calm the person’s mood, as they can keep the persons hands and minds occupied. These knitted, crocheted or fabric tubes contain strands of textured ribbons, beads, and various fabrics attached to both inside and outside providing a wonderful source of visual, tactile and sensory stimulation.

Since May staff, students and friends have been attending a weekly Creative Craft Thursday session which has resulted in an amazing collection of beautiful, individually created Twiddle Muffs. The muffs come in an array of colours and decorations, each one lovingly made with the thoughts of the person who will be receiving it.

“We are delighted to be able to hand over our completed Twiddle Muffs to two very worthy organisations – The Denby Dale Centre and Age UK. We’ve spent many months creating these beautiful knitted muffs, which are each unique and individual and cannot wait to be able to present them to their new recipients. Both organisations work with people living with dementia and have found these items to be invaluable in helping their members.” Said Julie James, Kirklees College Customer Services Team Leader.

Representatives from both charities visited the College on Monday 5th November to be presented with their Twiddle Muffs as this project came to a close.

Paul Jones, Denby Dale Centre Representative said: “We can’t thank Kirklees College enough for the generous donation of these Twiddle Muffs and all the love and care that has gone into producing them. Our members will be thrilled to receive them and they really do make a huge difference to the lives of people living with Dementia.”

A new fundraising appeal also launched on this day, as the team introduced the delivery of the Christmas Present / Shoebox initiative – a charity appeal that will benefit the Welcome Centre, Huddersfield and Yorkshire Children’s Charity.

The College will be asking for donations of food, toiletries and small gifts to help vulnerable families over the Christmas period, and requesting toys for children who are in hospital and may otherwise not get a present on Christmas Day.