Casting off politics to concentrate on knitting

Many people in the third sector will be unhappy with the new minister for civil society’s comments on charities staying out of politics. Not me though, because I love knitting. I like nothing better than a good day at the spinning wheel, a freshly shorn fleece by my side and a vision of the perfect jumper already forming in my head. On Monday at a roundtable on Community Empowerment I managed to knit a bobble hat. On Tuesday I got through a huge amount of knitting at a conference on water rates. Just look at this amazing knitted teddy bear! (even if I do say so myself!) Oh, and last month I turned out this fine Arran wool jumper whist introducing Nicola Sturgeon to some members of the sector. Thanks to Brooks Newmark I can now say to my boss ‘I’m just following the advice of the civil society minister’ when he comes in to find my desk enveloped with multi-coloured wool. I’m going to extend this principle to the sector at large. A few months back we organised discussions with Nicola Sturgeon and Johann Lamont, next month we’ll be treating the Policy Officers Network to a knitting masterclass with an optional add on for crochet. As a policy officer, at the moment I’m working on the Community Empowerment Bill. It’s a pretty complicated pattern to follow set out in the consultation, so I’m taking great care to knit it all together. I’m using my strongest wool, as it’s essential that this project leads to strengthened communities. So far I reckon I’ve got a good outline down – I just need to add in some decoration and I’ll be able to send it off to the MSPs to try on. Ah, the life of a charity worker – it’s great to be able to keep #stickingtomyknitting! What about you? Join in the conversation @scvotweet and let us know how you’re sticking to your knitting. Send us your pics using the hashtag #stickingtomyknitting