EASTER CHICK APPEAL – 2021 COVID UPDATE
Due to the closure of schools and businesses, we have made the decision to scale back the Easter Chick Appeal this year. Most of our chicks are sold in schools and offices, and without any certainty regarding their reopening, we cannot be sure of selling the quantity we usually receive.
For that reason, we are not currently appealing for donations of knitted chicks. We already have a large quantity of leftover chicks in storage because of the disruption to last year’s appeal. Our aim will be to fill and sell these wherever we can.
If you have already started knitting, we are happy to accept your chicks and store them till next year. However, we would not have the storage space to hold the quantities we normally receive.
There are still ways you can support this year’s campaign – read on to find out more…

About the Easter Chick Knit Appeal
Join in our annual appeal, in which thousands of knitted Easter chicks filled with a Creme Egg are sold to raise funds for Francis House.
Every year, thousands of little woolly chicks and bunnies flock into Francis House, knitted by crafty supporters from across the world.
The chicks are filled with a donated chocolate egg each and sold in schools, stores and businesses all across Greater Manchester to raise funds for the hospice.
Have a question about the appeal? Email rachel.astill@francishouse.org.uk or call 0161 443 2200
Want to get involved?
Knit or crochet for us
Please note we are not appealing for donations of knitted chicks this Easter (see top of page). However feel free to get started early for 2022!
This year we are encouraging supporters to knit and fill chicks or bunnies to sell to friends, family, neighbours etc (where safe to do so) and send in the funds raised.
Put your needles to work and knit up as many little chicks as you can manage. Chicks can be as colourful as you please: the quirkier, the better! We also have a crochet pattern you can follow. Feel free to get creative and customise your chicks with knitted hats, scarves and accessories. However, simple traditional chicks are very popular too!
Scroll down to find the patterns.


Donate or collect creme eggs for us
Although we are not appealing for donations of chicks this year, we do still need Creme Eggs to fill the thousands of empty chicks leftover from last year. Please help if you can!
Every chick we receive needs pairing with a chocolate egg (Cadbury’s Creme Egg sized).
Help us source the thousands we need by posting in a box or two (you can do this easily via our Amazon Wishlist) or by making a donation towards the cost of the eggs.


Sell
We are always looking for more venues to take an order of chicks to sell. Schools, nurseries, offices or shops are normally great selling points. If you know of somewhere suitable that will be open for business leading up to Easter, please let us know. We will supply as many chicks (or bunnies) as required, along with collection tubs and posters.


Volunteer
- Egg stuffing Filling 50,000 plus chicks with a Creme Egg each can be very time-consuming for our small fundraising team. We need volunteers to fill chicks with eggs and count out orders in the run up to Easter. This year we are unable to run our volunteer ‘stuffing sessions’ but would welcome the help of local supporters who would be willing to fill our chicks from the comfort of their own home! Please get in touch if you can help.
Download this year's patterns
We have both knitting and crochet patterns available for chicks and bunnies. Download yours below!
Please note we are not appealing for donations of knitted chicks this Easter (see top of page). However feel free to get started early for 2022!
- Knitted Easter Chick Pattern Download our Knitted Easter Chicks Pattern
- Crochet Easter Chick Pattern Download our Crochet Easter Chicks Pattern
- Knitted Easter Bunny Pattern Download our Knitted Easter Bunny Pattern
- Crochet Easter Bunny Pattern Download our Crochet Easter Bunny Pattern