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Could you organise a sponsored event or another fund-raiser for us?

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Do you have an annual event?

The Friends of the Rosie were delighted to receive a cheque for £500 from staff members at the accountancy firm PEM who were invited to nominate a local charity to the PEM Charitable Trust.

Jemma Gibbons-Riddell nominated the Friends after the birth of her second son at the Rosie in 2026 as she recognised the brilliant work the Friends does for the maternity hospital.

The money will be used to support mothers in accordance with the Friends of the Rosie constitution which says: ‘The object of ‘The Friends of the Rosie’ shall be the relief of patients at the Maternity Hospital, Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust by the provision of facilities and equipment not normally provided by the Trust.’

Thank you Jemma for nominating us.

Visitors to the hospital cannot fail to be made aware of the generosity, hard work and dedication of the Friends. The evidence is there, in every ward and department.

Maybe all you can do is make a contribution of some of your time this year.

The “Postcode Advertiser” interviewed one of our trustees, Avril, about supporting the local community and how Rosie in Stitches benefits the Rosie hospital.

Avril loves to support the work of The Friends of the Rosie Maternity Hospital. She has been an enthusiastic volunteer for the hospital since 1993 and is part of a loyal team of knitters and crocheters who make children’s clothes and toys to sell under the name Rosie in Stitches. Rosie in Stitches has a group of 60 volunteers to knit items that The Rosie Hospital wards need for the babies.

The Friends of the Rosie Hospital are enthusiastic volunteers whose aim is to improve the services the hospital provides by raising money for items that the NHS does not buy. They have a loyal team who make children’s clothes and toys to sell under the name ‘Rosie in Stitches. They are interested in the comfort of all Rosie patients. In the community they supply midwives with state-of-the-art equipment.

Meet Avril Williams, 62, a longtime Cambridge resident of 42 years, who loves to support the community.

What do you love most about living in Cambridge?

There are lots of historical and artistic places to vi

sit and things to do.

What’s your favourite thing to do on an autumn day?

Walking in the woods listening to the sound of leaves crunching under foot, the wind blowing the trees and birdsong. Smelling the petrichor and late blooms in the air.

Restaurant recommendation?

The Olive Tree Cafe at Oakington Garden Centre. It is a nice place to rest if I have been energetic enough to walk there. The homemade quiche and cakes are delicious and great calorie replenishments after a hike.

Favourite secret hotspot?

Madingley Community Orchard for solitude and to pick blackberries for jam making!

Can you tell us more about how you contribute to the local community?

I support several charities, visiting for CamSight, volunteering with Special Olympics but most of the time liaising with The Rosie Hospital to find out what items the wards need for the babies.

Tell us more about Rosie in Stitches – what service does it offer and how can residents participate?

The Friends of the Rosie Hospital are enthusiastic volunteers whose aim is to improve the services the hospital provides by raising money for items that the NHS does not buy. They have a loyal team who make children’s clothes and toys to sell under the name ‘Rosie in Stitches. They are interested in the comfort of all Rosie patients. In the community they supply midwives with state-of-the-art equipment.

If you can spare a few hours a week or wish to donate, they would be happy to hear from you. Rosie in Stitches has a group of 60 volunteers to knit items that The Rosie Hospital wards need for the babies. We also make other commissions received by customers through our website. We have in person stalls at various village community markets.

We have several more requests for funding, so any donations will be gratefully received. All the money raised goes to the Rosie.

The Friends of the Rosie Hospital’s aim is to raise money to buy comforts and equipment that the NHS cannot provide for mothers and babies both in the Rosie Maternity Hospital at Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust, Cambridge and in the district.

To raise money, we sell knitted goods under the trading arm ‘Rosie in Stitches’. These goods are made by a group of about 60 kind knitters and sold at local stalls in the Cambridge area and online here, via our rosieinstitches2010 eBay charity store, and on our Rosie in Stitches Facebook page.

Our charity accepts commissions for items that are not in our catalogue.

The special cardigan had been knitted for a newborn baby.

We have several more requests for funding, so any donations will be gratefully received. All the money raised goes to the Rosie.

We can always use any offers of help and new volunteers to support our work. Just contact us on friendsoftherosie@gmail.com