For over 14 years, Anita Knagg has been a dedicated volunteer at East Lancashire Hospice, giving her time, creativity and enthusiasm to our shops and fundraising events. She now volunteers at our Blackburn Crabtree Street shop.
Anita’s connection to the Hospice began when a close friend’s niece was cared for here. Wanting to give back, she joined two other families to form the ‘FUNRaisers’; a group that organised discos, party nights, quiz nights and fashion shows to raise funds. Her husband, daughter and brother‑in‑law often joined in, making it a real family effort.
Volunteering has given Anita a strong sense of purpose since retiring. She values the people she has met through the Hospice, and she speaks fondly of Café Retreat for its welcoming atmosphere and role as a social space for the wider community.
Anita has always enjoyed making earrings and bracelets for herself, but her jewellery volunteering began when the Wilpshire shop received a large donation of broken semi‑precious gemstone beads. Saddened at the thought of such beautiful materials going to waste, she began creating earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, gradually learning what customers liked and adapting her designs.
She soon realised many jewellery donations arrived tangled, broken or incomplete. Anita began sorting the bags herself, untangling pieces, repairing anything that could be fixed, and taking apart unsellable items to reuse the beads. Single earrings became beautiful pendant necklaces, broken strands became new bracelets, and beads were turned into necklaces.
“I’m unusual in that I enjoy untangling things,” said Anita. “A bag of knotted necklaces is a thing of joy.”
Anita finds the jewellery work therapeutic and loves knowing that discarded items can have a new purpose, rather than ending up in landfill, while supporting the Hospice for her local community. Anita’s creativity, care and attention to detail have made a real difference, and we are grateful for her contribution.
You can find Anita’s jewellery at our Wilpshire shop or Oswaldtwistle Mills, and she has stalls at some of our events.
If you’d like to explore volunteering opportunities at East Lancashire Hospice, you can learn more here: https://eastlancshospice.org.uk/join-us/volunteer-vacancies/
