A MEMBER of disability centre Paul’s Place is doing her bit to help the charity pay to repair the roof of its new home.
Georghie Porter, from Kingswood, has been making and selling gonks to raise money for the charity for physically disabled adults, which is currently based at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club, despite only being able to use one hand.
Paul’s Place is preparing to move into its own premises at the former Shire Way Community Centre in Yate in the summer, giving it space to support more physically disabled people with improved facilities and a wider range of services and activities.
Last year, thieves stole lead from the roof of the former community centre – the only part of the building that hadn’t been in need of any work.
Georghie decided to support the appeal to pay the cost of repairing the roof by making and selling the woolly gnome-like mascots. So far, she has made over 100, raising £335 towards her £500 target.

A Paul’s Place spokesperson said: “It’s a delicate craft, where Georgie can only use her one hand to thread wool to create a small and woolly gnome figure.
“It’s a huge achievement, despite having a physical disability which affects her hearing, sight, legs and arms.”
Georghie started making gonks during the Covid lockdown years when a support worker introduced the activity at Paul’s Place. Since then she has made them for members and staff at Paul’s Place, for carers, family members and friends of friends.
As word spread, care workers requested Georghie’s handmade gonks for other clients, with themed versions for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day to Valentine’s Day. She even made 25 for a junior football team in their blue and yellow colours.
Georghie said: “My favourites were the Christmas Gonks, because they had glitter, and the first eight I made came out fluffier than I expected. I get asked, ‘how do I make them with one hand? I reply that you find a way. I love making gonks. The end product is so satisfying and it’s a project I can do myself.”
After reaching her £500 target for Paul’s Place, Georghie intends to keep making gonks to raise money for Cancer Research.
Anyone who would like to help the charity can visit its website at www.paulsplace.org.uk/hub for more details.