Knitting with purpose: Building connection at Narraweena Grove
9th April 2026 | 4 min read
Residents living with dementia support local women and children through community knitting project
Residents at Narraweena Grove Care Community on Sydney's Northern Beaches have combined creativity, community connection and compassion by knitting 40 scarves for women and children supported by the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter.
The project has helped residents maintain fine motor skills, strengthen social connections and contribute to a meaningful local cause, while providing practical support for people experiencing hardship.
Creativity, connection and purpose
For people living with dementia, creative activities can help stimulate the mind, support dexterity and encourage social engagement. At Narraweena Grove Care Community, creative pursuits are also an opportunity to stay connected with the wider community.
When residents were looking for a project that would combine their knitting skills with a greater purpose, wellbeing manager Kathrin identified an opportunity to support the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter.
Together, residents created 40 scarves, which were donated to women and children in need of essential support.
"It's been a wonderful experience for our residents," says Kathrin. "As well as exercising their fine motor skills, knitting brings people together and keeps their community connections strong, so it's great for social wellbeing."
Meet the residents behind the scarves
Growing up in post-war Austria, resident Christa has always felt empathy for those facing difficult circumstances and was eager to use her knitting skills to help others.
"I love to knit, and it's nice to know I'm contributing," she says. "I know the work I do will be passed on to somebody who needs it."
For fellow resident Patricia, supporting the project was a natural extension of years spent helping others through knitting. In the past, she created knitted squares for local schools, which students stitched together into blankets.
"It feels good to help people," she says. "When people compliment my work, I feel proud and I know that what I'm doing is valuable."
Supporting wellbeing through meaningful activities
Beyond the scarves themselves, the project created opportunities for residents to stay active, engaged and connected.
By participating in a shared creative activity with a clear purpose, residents were able to contribute their skills while supporting a local organisation making a difference in their community.
The initiative reflects the importance of meaningful activities in dementia care and the positive role community partnerships can play in supporting resident wellbeing.
A donation that makes a difference
The scarves were warmly received by the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter, where they will help provide comfort and dignity for women and children accessing support services.
"For the women we support, these donations help bring dignity and they're a tangible sign that people in our local community care about them," says Kim, volunteer coordinator at Northern Beaches Women's Shelter.
"That Narraweena Grove's residents took the time to make these beautiful items shows their care and compassion. And for some of the ladies we support, it reminds them of a skill they may have enjoyed pursuing when they felt safe, so it reignites that interest."
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Commonly asked questions
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Knitting can help support fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and social engagement while providing a meaningful creative outlet.
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Creative activities can encourage participation, promote wellbeing, support cognitive stimulation and help people maintain skills and interests that are important to their identity.
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The Northern Beaches Women's Shelter provides support and essential services for women and children experiencing homelessness, domestic violence or hardship.
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Residents knitted and donated 40 scarves to help provide warmth, comfort and dignity to women and children accessing support through the shelter.