Knitting-enthusiasts in Darlington have jumped at the chance of helping the team at Number Forty on Skinnergate following an appeal for knitted blankets.

Following the council’s appeal for people to knit blankets for Number Forty on Skinnergate we heard from some people who wanted to help but didn't know how to get started.

One of these knitters, Larna, has agreed to put on a short workshop to teach the basics.

If you have always wanted to learn how to knit pop along to Number Forty on Wednesday, February 15, from 12.30-2.30pm.

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Anything knitted will be donated to Number Forty which is a safe space in the town centre, open 9pm-3am every Friday and Saturday.

Number Forty is part of the Safer Streets partnership, which includes the council, Durham Constabulary and the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner.

The partnership runs a number of initiatives to improve safety and the feeling of safety in the town centre, particularly among women and girls.

Since it opened over three months ago, Number Forty has helped lost party goers reunite with their friends, provided first aid, helped people get to hospital, called taxis and family members, supported victims of crime and handed out free water, flip flops and ponchos.

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The initiative is supported by the Darlington Safer Streets partnership, which includes Darlington Borough Council and Durham Constabulary.

Lucy Hatch, Safter Streets Coordinator, previously told The Northern Echo: “So far we’ve helped 166 people on nights out. Sometimes this is people who are in distress or sometimes it’s just people who need to charge their phone.

“We thought going into this that it would be mainly women and girls using the service but we’ve had 50/50 split between males and females walking through the doors. We are funded by Violence Against Women but of course we welcome males as well.

“We have 26 volunteers and they’re all from different age groups and backgrounds but we’re always happy to hear from people interested in volunteering.”

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