THE British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched “The Big Stitch” with the aim of getting people in the South West to get crafty and support its life saving research by taking part in a competition.

During the Coronavirus lockdown, many people have been busy picking up new crafty hobbies, from upcycling furniture to giving a well-loved T-shirt an overhaul.

The Big Stitch, which will run for one month, will encourage people in the South West to pop to their nearest charity shop, buy an item and use their skills and creativity to give it a new look.

With 540 clothes shops nationwide, BHF shops are full of amazing preloved finds that can easily be adapted to personal style. From fraying and tasselling to adding decorative items, simple basic sewing skills can add a touch of fashion flair and create one-of-a-kind items.

This year, the BHF has teamed up with the UK’s largest arts and crafts retailer, Hobbycraft to offer the prizes including a gift vouchers and a hamper.

Every look shared on Instagram or Twitter with a “before and after” image, tagging the BHF and using #TheBigStitch hashtag will be entered into a competition to win a prize.

All tagged images will also be showcased on the charity’s photo wall on its website.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the BHF, said: “We love seeing the creativity of our customers in the South West, who never fail to impress us with the new looks they give to items they find in our shops.

“As well as being a fun way to get crafty, the Big Stitch helps us prevent waste and raise much needed funds for our vital heart research.

“This year has been devastating to the British Heart Foundation’s income and led to a possible £50 million cut in our research budget.

“As our shops reopened over summer with new safety measures in place, we’ve been delighted to welcome customers back and help provide high quality items at affordable prices.

“Every pound raised in our shops helps us to support the 720,000 people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the South West, who need our support now more than ever.”?

For more information and to find your nearest BHF shop, visit www.bhf.org.uk/TheBigStitch .