Joanne Dunne never expected that a simple hobby, picked up on a whim, would become a lifeline for people in her community. Living in Prestonpans, a small town in East Lothian, Scotland, Joanne’s journey with knitting began just a few months ago, after hearing she was going to be a grandmother. As she awaited the arrival of her granddaughter in July 2025, she found herself drawn to loom knitting—a craft she’d never tried before. What started as a way to prepare for a new family member soon blossomed into something much bigger.
According to the East Lothian Courier, Joanne initially knitted hats and blankets for her granddaughter, but quickly realized the soothing rhythm of knitting offered a welcome escape from the demands of her job at Scottish Autism’s Musselburgh-based day centre. The repetitive motion helped her unwind, and she soon found herself surrounded by a growing pile of warm, woolly hats. Rather than let them sit unused, Joanne decided to give back to her community—one stitch at a time.
Joanne’s handmade beanie hats are now being donated to a range of people in need: homeless individuals braving Scotland’s unpredictable weather, newborn babies at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh’s maternity department, and older people supported by two East Lothian-based care facilities. She’s even extended her giving to Steps to Hope, a non-profit charity in Edinburgh and West Lothian that supports people experiencing homelessness and addiction, as well as Harlawhill Day Care Centre in Prestonpans and the Musselburgh-based Hollies Community Hub.
“I just wanted to do something to help,” Joanne said, reflecting on her decision to share her newfound passion with others. “Knitting helped me relax, and I thought if I could make a difference—even a small one—it was worth it.” As word spread about her efforts, donations of wool began pouring in from well-wishers across the area. Anyone interested in supporting her can drop off wool at her workplace at 17D North High Street, Musselburgh—a testament to how individual acts of kindness can inspire collective action.
Joanne’s story unfolds against a troubling backdrop that extends far beyond East Lothian. On the same day Joanne’s efforts were highlighted, a sobering report from Barnardos, published by The Irish Independent, revealed a record number of children experiencing homelessness in Ireland. The report, released August 28, 2025, paints a stark picture: as of June, 4,958 children were living in emergency accommodation. That’s more than 500 children higher than the same time last year, and almost double the 2,653 children recorded in 2020.
The study found that 18 percent of children supported by Barnardos are living in unsuitable accommodation, with many families squeezed into overcrowded, sub-standard emergency housing. These are not just statistics—they’re lived realities. Families described being placed in cramped one-bedroom hotel rooms, sometimes with stained sheets and even faeces on the curtains. When one mother complained, she was simply told to buy new sheets at a local store. Another mother, living in damp and mouldy social housing, worried that the conditions were worsening her child’s asthma and making her other child sick more often.
According to Barnardos, the situation is not just uncomfortable—it’s actively harmful. The charity’s staff report that housing has become a substantial issue for the families they support, affecting children’s well-being and their futures. Over the past 18 months, Barnardos spoke with vulnerable families and staff across their 56 service locations in Ireland, collecting stories that highlight the daily struggles of life in emergency accommodation.
One family, forced to move after losing their home, described the trauma of a four-year-old having to give up his bedroom and familiar surroundings just weeks after his grandfather’s death. The upheaval was so distressing that the child began wetting the bed, a problem echoed in other families facing similar instability. Another family with three children reported being woken at night by the sounds of domestic violence and drug use from neighbors in their provided accommodation.
The challenges extend to basic needs like nutrition and education. One couple, parents to a nine-month-old, struggled to store milk and prepare food due to a lack of kitchen facilities, making the weaning process nearly impossible. Many families reported having to travel long distances to keep their children in their original schools—or, worse, being forced to move their children to new schools, compounding the sense of loss and upheaval. Some children even expressed concerns about being stigmatized by classmates for becoming homeless.
There’s also a worrying trend: the number of families spending more than two years in emergency accommodation has jumped from 13 percent in 2022 to 21 percent this year. With childhood lasting a lifetime, as Barnardos chair Suzanne Connolly pointed out, the effects of such instability can be profound and long-lasting. “Being uprooted from your home and communities and moved into often cramped and unsuitable emergency accommodation can be very traumatic,” Connolly said. “Without support, that trauma can affect children’s relationships with others, their behaviour and ability to engage in school, their confidence levels and feeling of well-being.”
The cramped space, lack of privacy, and inability to carry out simple routines—like cooking a meal or storing food—can severely restrict a child’s physical and emotional development. Children often have to leave behind most of their possessions, losing not just toys but the sense of stability that comes with familiar belongings. The report also highlights how younger children can lose access to early-years care, as parents struggle to find available places in new areas.
Barnardos is urging the Irish government to act. The charity is calling for local authorities to prioritize the best interests of children when placing families in emergency housing. They are also appealing for increased rates of Housing Assistance Payments in Budget 2026, hoping to ease the financial strain on families and prevent more children from falling into homelessness.
Joanne Dunne’s knitting may seem like a small gesture in the face of such overwhelming need, but it’s precisely these acts of community care that provide comfort and warmth—literally and figuratively—to those who need it most. Her story is a reminder that while systemic change is urgently needed to address the root causes of homelessness, individuals and communities still have the power to make a difference, one hat at a time.
As the number of children experiencing homelessness continues to rise, stories like Joanne’s offer a glimmer of hope. Her simple act of kindness, multiplied by the generosity of those donating wool and supporting her efforts, shows that compassion can flourish even in the most challenging times. Meanwhile, the call from Barnardos for urgent policy action grows louder, underscoring the need for both immediate relief and long-term solutions to ensure every child has a safe place to call home.
