Project Linus UK is a volunteer organisation. We aim to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new home made patchwork quilts and knitted blankets, and give volunteers across the UK the opportunity to contribute to their local community.
Project Linus began in America in 1995 when Karen Loucks saw a newspaper article showing how much a comfort blanket had helped a child cancer victim. She decided to organise blankets for her local children’s cancer unit and started spreading the word. Since that time several million blankets and quilts have been delivered worldwide. The organisation began in the UK in March 2000 as a result of a Birmingham quilter’s desire to help children in need. We now have a large network of volunteers across the UK who donate their time and skills to create beautiful blankets and quilts.
Our volunteer Area Co-ordinators and their Assistants deliver around 3,500 quilts and blankets to sick, disabled or disadvantaged children across the UK each month. We cannot reach out to every distressed child but we can help to provide them with tangible evidence that someone cares, along with the physical reassurance that comes with being snuggled up in a quilt. We always try to deliver quilts and blankets to children who are local to the makers.