Wool & Wellbeing
This term, St Mary’s High School’s Wellbeing Club launched Wool & Wellness, a weekly lunchtime group open to both students and staff. What began as a simple idea — bringing people together through knitting and crafting — quickly became something truly special.
Meeting once a week, the club embraced four of the Five Ways to Wellbeing:
- Connect – building positive relationships across year groups.
- Learn – developing new creative skills, with complete beginners confidently picking up needles for the first time.
- Take Notice – slowing down, being present, and enjoying a mindful moment in a busy school day.
- Give – creating something meaningful for other children who need it.
Students and staff alike enjoyed the calm, supportive atmosphere. Beginners were warmly welcomed and discovered not only a new skill, but also the joy of contributing to a truly worthwhile cause.
Supporting Project Linus UK
The club has been proudly supporting Project Linus UK, a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit Community Interest Company.
The mission of Project Linus UK is simple but powerful: To provide love, warmth, comfort and a sense of security to babies, children and teenagers who are sick, disabled, disadvantaged or distressed.
They do this by donating new, homemade, washable quilts and blankets, lovingly created by volunteer knitters and quilters across the UK.
The charity supports children from premature birth up to 19 years old who may be seriously ill, traumatised, bereaved, abused, or facing significant challenges.
How It All Began
Project Linus began in the United States in 1995 and was inspired by Linus van Pelt, the security-blanket-carrying character from the comic strip Peanuts.
Project Linus UK was established in March 2000 and became a registered Community Interest Company in February 2013. Since then, it has continued to grow thanks entirely to volunteers and donations.
What Happens to the Blankets?
Every donated quilt or blanket is:
- Carefully checked for quality and safety.
- Labelled with a Project Linus tag.
- Delivered to a baby, child or teenager “in need of a big hug” — to keep as their very own.
Our special blanket is photographed with just some of the students that contributed to this amazing project. The blanket has now been posted off and the Project Linus UK Area Coordinator for East & North Herts commented “Your blanket sounds lovely, thank you for all the hard work that you’ve put into it.”
Through Wool & Wellness, our school community is not only supporting wellbeing within our walls but also extending care far beyond them.
