Knit and Natter raises £1,400 for The Reader – ahead of unveiling four special knitted gifts for the Mansion House

The Reader would like to say a huge thank you to the Calderstones Knit and Natter group, which has raised an incredible £1,400 for the charity.

The group often sees more than 50 people, whose ages span six decades, come along each Tuesday morning to knit, natter and share some great literature together, and occasionally embark on a community challenge.

After fundraising all last year for The Reader, which included selling handmade crafts created by members of the group, their fingers are now hard at work on four different projects commissioned for the Mansion House, re-opening later this summer.

Mary White, a volunteer Reader Leader and one of the Knit and Natter organisers, said: "Well done to everyone for working so hard to raise this money – a truly impressive amount. We are a very supportive group, everyone comes here with different levels of skill, ready to listen and help one another.

"Calderstones is such a beautiful setting and we love supporting The Reader
– a wonderful organisation that does so much good for the community.

Mary read a poem to the group before presenting the cheque to The Reader's founder Jane Davis. Edgar Albert Guest's It Couldn’t Be Done was a fitting tribute to all of their efforts.

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

"Thank you for being so generous with your time, efforts and donations, and for teaching me how to crochet," Jane Davis. "Knit and Natter is a very important part of The Reader and I'll make sure that we use this money to create something very special.

"I know you're all itching to get back into the Mansion House
– and I promise it won't be much longer. The whole team is excited to see what you're creating for the public spaces inside the house."

THE READER AT CALDERSTONES

The Reader, the Liverpool-based charity that brings people together and books to life, is moving forward with its plans to make a difference to more lives in the region as it prepares to open the doors to the refurbished Grade II listed Mansion House in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park later this summer.

Along with the Storybarn, the Café and the Ice Cream Parlour, which are already up and running, the restored Mansion House will be part of The Reader at Calderstones, a warm and vibrant community where anyone can come to experience literature, find and share meaning, be nourished, develop new skills and explore creativity.

By creating new ways for everyone to enjoy and experience literature together as part of daily life, The Reader at Calderstones aims to offer everyone – and particularly those who need it most – meaningful opportunities to connect with someone, or something.

The Reader Mansion House will provide a range of meaningful activities and events for everyone which will be held together by a golden thread of literature. The number of weekly Shared Reading groups on site will double to 30 by the end of year, while new activities will include art for all, walks, Reader Retreats, yoga, a chance to help develop the mansion’s garden, and more.