BELAIR Public School has given tokens of love to domestic violence survivors in the form of unique and handmade gifts.
Learning support teacher Amanda McNulty said the school community was set weekly projects during the period of lockdown earlier this year, as well as an overarching project: to knit or crochet a 20 centimetre by 20 centimetre square to form parts of blankets to donate to a charity.
"As the pandemic unfolded and we saw there was an increase in domestic violence, that was the reason we went with the charity we went with, Friends with Dignity," she said.
The organisation provides practical programs to assist survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with refuge and crisis centres.
This includes turning empty houses into homes by filling them with necessities.
Community members and students contributed at least 150 squares of different colours, textures and patterns, which were sewn together to form six blankets, some to fit a single bed and others to keep laps warm.
"The lovely thing was grandparents taught their grandchildren to knit and crochet at the same time. It was a community thing that everyone felt they could have a part in," she said.
"We've noticed in the playground now we've got children coming in with knitting needles doing knitting themselves at lunchtime and recess, so it's started a little bit of an interest."
The blankets have been placed, accompanied by 'made with love' tags, in homes as gifts.
"I hope they feel love from the community and that people are thinking about them in their time of need."
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