A GROUP of crafters met at the Cobweb Inn in Boscastle recently to do their bit to help young animals which have been affected by the devastating bushfires in Australia.

Although we may be on the other side of the world here in North Cornwall, distance didn’t stop a group of 16 keen crafters from meeting at the Cobweb Inn on Monday, January 13 to knit, sew and stitch cotton ‘Joey’ pouches for the young, injured and orphaned animals in Australia, who have sadly lost their mothers and habitats due to the roaring bushfires that swept across the country over new year and into January.

Tracy Bright, landlord of the Cobweb Inn, hosted the event, and told the Post that a group of local crafters have joined a UK-wide initiative to create pouches for animals in Australia.

‘UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue Effort’ is a Facebook group that was created on Saturday, January 4 in response to the animals needing help in fire-torn Australia. The group is helping the Animal Rescue Collective and Animal Rescue Craft Guild. The Animal Rescue Collective is a joint project of rescue groups around Australia.

Local crafters from the Post area have joined the national scheme, which has set up ‘hubs’ in different parts of the UK to organise local events and collection points for crafted items to be sent out to Australia.

Tracey has been organising craft events each Monday throughout January at the Cobweb Inn.

She said: “It started off with myself and Jill Williams just talking about what we could do to help. Then it turned into 15 or 16 of us meeting on a Monday to sew for Australia. We joined a national club, UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue Effort, which puts on a hoard of events for people to craft some items and do their bit to help.”

The Cobweb Inn group met again on Monday, January 20 ahead of collecting and sorting all the items from today (Thursday) to meet the Saturday deadline.

Tracy continued: “There’s been a global stock-take, people have been making things across the world for this cause.

“They call them ‘Joey’ pouches, but we’re actually making things for all baby animals — they could be used for kangaroos, bats, all sorts of animals that need the help.”

The appeal for help from Australia has been an important cause for Tracy and other local crafters.

She said: “We have got friends out there (Australia) who, luckily, have avoided the fires, but have got fire all around them. We have also seen a lot through the media about the damage that has been done. The crafting events and things we make are our way of providing a little bit of help.”

Since the UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue Effort group was formed on January 4, they have now gained approximately 25,000 members across the country, who all have the same aim of making pouches for animals in need.

There are now more than 45 hubs across the UK, and UK Crafters for Australia facilitates crafting groups around the country with the aim of listing any events on their Facebook group and sub-groups according to the region.

The group are supported by Bentley Motors, British Airlines and Virgin to ship crates of donations to waiting rescue teams in Australia. They also have a logistics expert coordinating a fleet of volunteer drivers to move donations around the UK.

They have set a deadline of Saturday, January 25 for crafters to deliver their items to hubs. At that point, Rachel Hunt and Niki Cardwell from the group will do a global stock-take of what is being made around the world and assess the ongoing needs.

However, there is the possibility that more items will be needed after the January 25 deadline for a potential ‘Round Two’ of crafting.

Tracy continued: “It all has to be 100% cotton, and we were very happy to accept donations of materials. All the materials we have used have been recycled and donated to us.”

As of today (Thursday), the group went on a ‘global pause’, so stocks could be assessed during the worldwide stock-take.

The UK Crafters for Australia group suggests other ways people can get involved includes hosting a ‘crafternoon’ or a sewing bee to make items; offer to collect finished items in your area and drive them to a hub; share photos of items on social media, makes drinks for crafters and pick up or drop off supplies.

Tracy added: “We have loads of donations and are very grateful. The only thing we ask for now is 100% cotton in the form of bedding, soft table cloths and fleeces — 100% larger cotton items. Please ensure they are fully marked to ensure the material.”

Are you doing something to help the efforts in Australia? Write to [email protected] to tell us what you have been doing to help.