Susanne David, a full-time Fashion Lecturer at Gower College Swansea, is proving that kindness and creativity can make a tangible difference in the lives of the homeless. In addition to her demanding teaching role, Susanne has set herself a challenge that goes beyond the classroom – to knit 365 hats, one for each day of the year, for those in need.
Her journey began on a freezing January morning as she sat in her car, struggling to defrost the windscreen and warm up before heading to work. As she sat shivering, a news report on the radio caught her attention – a proposal to fine homeless individuals up to £2,500 for rough sleeping. Susanne was outraged at the idea that homelessness could be treated as a crime. The freezing cold and the thought of those spending the night on the streets triggered an idea: Susanne could use her talent in textiles to make a difference.
Having recently received a circular knitting machine as a Christmas gift, she decided to put it to good use by embarking on a 'Year of Kindness' challenge: knitting 365 hats for the homeless. With the goal in mind, she took to social media to share her pledge, and support quickly began to pour in. Family, friends and colleagues asked how they could help, and Susanne set up an Amazon wish list for wool donations. Soon, her doorstep was flooded with deliveries of wool from generous supporters.
In a heartfelt gesture, Susanne has labelled each of the hats with the name of the person who donated the wool, as well as a special message reminding the recipient that they matter.
This December, Susanne will deliver her collection of 365 hats to Matthew’s House in Swansea, an organization committed to providing unconditional hospitality to some of the city’s most vulnerable individuals, including those facing homelessness, mental health struggles, and addiction. Matthew’s House is dedicated to delivering hope and compassion to those in need, with their motto: “Hope can change lives, it can refresh and refocus us, and that's why we try our very best to deliver it.”
Matthew’s House is a charitable project initiative of The Hill Church Charity.
Susanne has been documenting her journey throughout the pledge on social media, inspiring others to follow her lead and contribute. You can follow her progress and see her work at:
Facebook: facebook.com/365hatsforthehomeless
Instagram: instagram.com/365hatsforthehomeless
She is thrilled to see her project come to life as the festive season approaches. The hats will be distributed as gifts to the guests of Matthew’s House, bringing warmth and care to those who need it most during the cold winter months.