Loving Hands was set up on 22nd June 2007 when the founder (Lou Jaap) had a 'eureka' moment following helping out with a volunteer knitathon.Lou worked for Sky television in Dunfermline and was one of Sky's 'Make A Difference' volunteers team.  At one of the team meetings the chairwoman suggested Lou help out with the knitathon which was being organised by the Volunteer Centre Fife for National Volunteers Week - the idea being to demonstrate to people that they could volunteer from the comfort of their own homes.  While helping with the event Lou was overwhelmed by the number of lovely older ladies who had drawers full of items they had knitted but had nobody to give them to!  Families had grown up and grandkids didnt want hand knits any more but these ladies loved to feel useful and knitting kept them occupied.  Lou asked if it was OK to put up a poster and leave some flyers during the knitathon suggesting starting a local group in Kelty.  The first few weeks she sat alone in the Community Centre in Kelty but persevered and soon a few of the ladies who had made things for the knitathon began to come along.  In the meantime she began to Blog about it on her computer (even winning a Volunteer of the year award for an innovative way of encouraging others to volunteer ;0)  - before she knew it people were contacting her through the Blog and asking if they could help with knitting for charity and could they send items to her - Loving Hands was born !!!  Now numbers are fast approaching the 8000 mark and Loving Hands has featured in many magazines and newspapers all over the country. 

The ethos behind Loving Hands is to bring together like minded crafters who band together to knit, crochet and sew for charities and groups from all over the world.  Through careful vetting Lou makes sure that every charity or group or individual she recommends are taking the items directly to the areas of most need and hand delivering them there to the people or animals in crisis.  Loving Hands - as a rule - do not make items to be sold for peanuts in charity shops or stored for years in warehouses here in the UK.  Items are given to over 36 different charities with more joining us all the time - in the past we have given to places such as - SANDS, Cuddles, British Maternity Units and Morticians, SSPCA, RSPCA, Cats Protection League, David Sheldrake Wildlife Trust (for orphaned baby elephants), Blytheswood Care, Scotia Aid,  Operation Orphan and Greenfields Africa.  The Salvation Army, Hope & Aid Direct, Funsani Orphanage, Springs of Life School in Kenya, The Fistula Project, The Seaman's Mission and so many more.  We make everything from burial items for tiny babies who do not survive, to knitted 'boobs' which are mostly used to teach breastfeeding in UK hospitals, to blankets, knee rugs and shoulder wraps for the elderly, hats for sailors, warm clothing for the homeless and for children living in freezing conditions in places like Serbia and Mongolia to bags to save tiny puffins who have been blown off course!  Our aid has gone all over the world to countries like - South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka, Sierra Lione, Haiti, Peru, Mongolia, Transylvania, Algeria, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria and other places besides.

Lou prides herself on finding a good home for every single item that comes through the door of her wee council house in Kelty or is sent or delivered to one of the addresses provided on the forum.  She is always delighted to welcomemembers and friends through her front door.

Every three months she sets challenges to inspire and motivate members but there is also a very long ongoing wish list which lists items needed all of the time.  Members knit, crochet and sew items and then either take them along to a local group (Lou's dream is to eventually cover the whole country with enough local groups so that no matter where someone lives they will be in reach of one!) or send them direct to the charities using the contacts listed or in to her at Loving Hands HQ.

The forum (tab at top of this web site) is an amazing place to visit too - so full of love and inspiration for all who read it - many members start their day by switching on their pc's to see who is on the forum before they even put the kettle on!  Through belonging to this amazing collective of loving, talented people many have found a reason to get up in the morning, a distraction from pain/long term illness/family problems, something to smile about and look forward to.  Dozens of new friendships have been formed and projects have benefitted from the awesome power that is Loving Hands. 

New members are always welcome as are enquiries from hospitals, animal shelters, homes for the elderly, morticians, charities etc who might need our aid.