Blackburn with Darwen residents have been urged to get creative as Age UK Big Knit’s campaign gets underway.

The scheme, which has been since 2003, in collaboration with Innocent Smoothies to inspire the nation’s crafters to knit little hats for the bottles.

Age UK takes 30p from every behatted smoothie sold, raising £3.2 million since it began and providing support to older people both nationally and locally.

This year the campaign is aiming to knit 1.4 million little hats, with the smoothies on shelves in October 2025.

Money raised will help Age UK continue to provide older people with vital information, advice, and friendship as well as accessing support for their local services and activities.

Vicky Shepherd, chief officer of Age UK Blackburn with Darwen, said: “We’re calling on the people of Blackburn with Darwen to dust off their knitting needles and help us make this the best year yet of our partnership with Innocent.

“Let’s cast on and knit up a storm to hit our target of 3,000 hats.”

With several designs, including a monkey, fox cub, sheep and unicorn available to download they are also encouraging participants to come up with their creations.

Charlotte Wright, brand manager at Innocent Drinks UK, said: "The Big Knit is an amazing campaign that gets people throughout the country knitting, crocheting and buying little hats on smoothies for a cause that truly matters.

“We are so excited that the Big Knit is back, and we will be continuing our long-standing partnership with Age UK to help support older people as much as possible.”

Crafters have until July 1, 2025, to send their hats and the charity asks for completed hats to Age UK Blackburn with Darwen at 4 King Street, Blackburn BB2 2Dh or hand them into any of our services and activities.