East Cheshire NHS Charity’s appeal for knitted hearts for end of life patients and their families

An appeal has been launched for the donation of colourful knitted hearts to help bring comfort to the families of patients who are receiving last hours and days of life care.

The End of Life Care team at East Cheshire NHS Trust are running low on stocks of hearts which have been knitted by the public since 2024.

Led by the Trust’s official charity, East Cheshire NHS Charity, the hearts provide a keepsake for patient and their loved ones during a sad and difficult time.

Chris Symes, End of Life Care Facilitator/ Educator in the Specialist Palliative Care Team said:

“We have received so many kind donations of knitted and crocheted hearts and we would like to thank everyone who has sent them to us.

“One of the hearts is given to the patient to hold and the other one is given to their loved one, to illustrate that their hearts are always together.

“Our stocks are sadly running low now and we are appealing for donations from all the keen knitters and crocheters in our communities. These little hearts are small things, but they make a big difference at the hardest time.”

One relative of a patient who received palliative care at Macclesfield Hospital added:

“I felt it was important to recognise the extraordinary efforts of staff who went above and beyond in their duties and their compassion made a lasting impression on our family and helped us to get through such a difficult time.

“They also brought these lovely, knitted hearts to us, to give one to my mother-in-law and the others to the children (who were at home) so that they could be connected. The children cherish those so much now because they were from Granny and she has one even now.”

If you can’t knit or crochet, then there is still away to support the appeal by donating directly to the End of Life appeal on JustGiving or becoming a Co-op member and choosing East Cheshire NHS Charity’s End of Live Project as your local cause through your membership.

By donating or selecting this as your cause and thanks to the Co-op Community Fund, the charity will receive funds to support the initiative and the creation of care and memory packs.

These packs allow a person-centred care approach, emphasizing personhood after death, which will support the mental wellbeing of relatives and friends. The packs will also allow family members and friends to keep these treasured memories to support them through a difficult time. 

If you can help with knitted hearts then please email: 

ecn-tr.ecnhscharity@nhs.net.

Alternatively for more information on supporting the End of Life Appeal, please click here: 

End of Life Project - JustGiving