MEMBERS of a Jewish health and social care charity have been busy with their knitting needles as they prepare for Mitzvah Day next month.

Jewish Care’s service users, volunteers and staff have knitted more than 100 woollen squares which will be sewn together to make blankets for elderly people in Eastern Europe as part of the annual good-deed day on November 20.

Mitzvah Day calls on thousands of volunteers to donate time rather than money to charity and community projects, and this year Jewish Care decided to help World Jewish Relief with its blanket campaign.

Neil Taylor, Jewish Care’s director of care and community services, said: “We are always so grateful to those who give up time to support Jewish Care – this year we decided to reach out and support another organisations’ scheme in return.

"It demonstrates how older people can still make a real contribution to other people's lives and from my personal experience of working in the Ukraine, the blankets are very much needed.

“It really is a fantastic way in bringing the community together, young and old, to undertake something meaningful and productive.”