Rugbeians come together to produce huge amounts of PPE for NHS staff and carers - here's how you can help them

The Rugby PPE Response group has expanded hugely over the last month and has joined forces with the Benn Partnership to extend the range and volume of personal protective equipment that they can produce for carers and the wider community
By Reporter
Published 19th May 2020, 18:02 BST
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A team of stitchers responded to the initial call from the Friends of St Cross and they have since worked with the charity’s Secretary, June Witcomb, to make over 400 scrubs bags as well as scrubs and headbands for the team at The Hospital of St Cross.

One of the people who responded to the call was Gita Natarajan, the Beyond Brexit project manager for the Benn Partnership Centre.

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Gita approached June and said: “The Partnership has a network of over 100 stitchers which we are urgently mobilising now that the Government has advised the public to wear cloth face masks when outdoors."

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Some of the team of stitchers and one the volunteer drivers.Some of the team of stitchers and one the volunteer drivers.
Some of the team of stitchers and one the volunteer drivers.

June Witcomb, secretary of the Friends of St Cross, said: “It was great to hear from Gita and we quickly agreed that we were both looking for material and should appeal to the community at large for donations of material such as sheets, pillow cases or duvet covers that can be used for all sorts of PPE.

"Of course, we would also welcome donations from the public so that we can buy suitable material as well.”

Dr Keith Edgar, project lead for the Rugby PPE Response initiative said: “Another benefit of this new partnership is that we have been able to move our distribution base to the Benn Partnership Centre.

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"I would like to thank Kellie Preece and the team at the Westside Medical Centre for all the support that they have given to the launch of the initiative.

Willy Goldschmidt and Gita Natarajan outside the Benn Partnership Centre.Willy Goldschmidt and Gita Natarajan outside the Benn Partnership Centre.
Willy Goldschmidt and Gita Natarajan outside the Benn Partnership Centre.

"On the 15th May we recorded that, together with our partner groups, we have dispatched 8,296 face visors and 600 other items of PPE to over 79 organisations across Rugby, Coventry and Warwickshire.

"Joining up with the Benn Partnership will also help us reach schools and other members of the community who are most vulnerable for a wide range of reasons.”

To help the group continue their vital work, please consider donating by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/RugbyPPEResponseFind out more on www.rugby-ppe-response.org.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/RugbyPPEResponse or donate to support the Friends of St Cross at fsx.org.uk

Related topics:PPENHS