Knitting group shortlisted

A LOCAL knitting group for people with dementia has been nominated for a national award.

Tak Your Makkin’, which meets every month at Mareel in Lerwick, is shortlisted for the most innovative partnership prize at this year’s Scotland’s Dementia Awards.

It was launched by Alzheimer Scotland and Shetland Arts in 2012 and it offers the chance for people with dementia to come together with their craft work, which is predominantly knitting.

Local dementia worker Ann Williamson said the group “helps raise awareness about dementia but also celebrates the significance of knitting in our culture and the knitters’ lives”.

It has also worked with writer Jacqui Clark and photographer John Coutts to create a knitting-themed display, and a new booklet is planned to coincide with this year’s Wool Week.

This year’s Scotland’s Dementia Awards, which is a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council, will take place in Glasgow on 21 September.