Academy colleagues make PPE for fellow Key Workers
All cooperators know, great things happen when we work together.
With Personal protective equipment (PPE) in short supply across the country, schools have been stepping into action and turning their Design and Technology rooms into production lines.
This includes many of our Academy colleagues who have been helping out their fellow Key Workers by making PPE.
Mrs Quinn and Miss Quinlan busy @WalkdenCoop making more visors for our NHS colleagues in the local community this morning! Absolute stars! pic.twitter.com/onyNLV1iZN
— Matt Hacker (@matthackeruk) April 6, 2020
Colleagues at Walkden, Manchester and Bebington have spent hours making visors for local surgeries, care homes and hospitals. Alongside donating unused goggles from their Science departments.
We have been productive using the laser cutter to make a frame for face visors. We’ve donated some to a local pharmacy, Clatterbridge and to the local council to distribute to local care providers. We have also donated around 80 pairs of safety glasses for local care providers. pic.twitter.com/1SCHNoNHHg
— Co-op Academy Bebington (@CoopAcademyBeb) April 21, 2020
Hannah Quinn and Rachael Quinlan at Walkden, Michael Montgomery, Alison Stannard and Richard Simpson at Manchester and Richard Fletcher and Keith March at Bebington used laser cutters and 3D printers to make the masks. Together they have donated over 1000 pieces of PPE, and plan on making more to meet the demand.
Staff at Haywood Hospital with PPE donated by Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent
“We just wanted to say a massive thank you for the visors that you delivered, they have been such a massive help in keeping all our staff healthy and in turn able to continue to treat the community and make sure they in turn stay healthy.
In the last 3 weeks since your delivery we have had no staff with COVID symptoms and one of the factors has to be the excellent PPE that we have been given so thank you.”- Thornbrook Surgery, given PPE by Co-op Academy Manchester
We've been so pleased to hear from NHS workers who are using the PPE we've made for them. Happy to help. pic.twitter.com/25UYDHv1lF
— Co-op Academy Manchester (@CoopManchester) April 14, 2020
Richard Fletcher at Bebington was inspired to start making the PPE by his partner- “My amazing partner is a nurse and is working on a ward treating patients with Corona virus. After seeing her come home scared by what is happening I was just glad that I could do something that helps keep her and her colleagues safe. As a bonus, it helps that I love making stuff.”
Mr Montgomery from our Tech team has been making 3D-printed PPE face masks for local NHS services. We have the capacity to make more if needed.
In addition, our Science team has donated protective goggles.#ItsWhatWeDo pic.twitter.com/KpxrAAUPAb
— Co-op Academy Manchester (@CoopManchester) April 6, 2020
Co-op Walkden Academy Principal, Matthew Hacker said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’re able to use our resources in school and expertise of dedicated teachers like Hannah to support our colleagues in the NHS.
“As a whole staff we realise that we are part of a bigger picture here in the middle of this national crisis and everyone is doing their bit to support that.”
And where academies can’t make visors, they’ve been donating other items.
Josh Dale at Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent arranged for goggles, masks, gloves and hand sanitiser to be donated to 4 different local practices.
A huge thank you for the kind and generous donations to the Haywood Hospital of visors, goggles, uniform wash bags, head bands and hand cream from @Coopacademy, @BrineLeas, Ormiston High School, members of the public and Scrubs for Stoke https://t.co/oqe8GHFHGS
Thank you all! pic.twitter.com/5pbGBbZiPS
— Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (@mpftnhs) April 14, 2020
Co-op Academy Priesthorpe’s Science department donated goggles to local hospitals.
Delighted to support the great work of Alyson Blakeley from @PrinceHenrysGS Alyson picked up 120 pairs of goggles from Priesthorpe which are now on their way to staff at Pinderfields and LGI #ItsWhatWeDo pic.twitter.com/0iScHLobws
— Co-op Academy Priesthorpe (@cooppriesthorpe) April 1, 2020
And Co-op Academy Leeds donated personal hygiene products to COVID-19 wards.
I love the way that organisations are working together, another delivery to go out with our magic breakfast packs this week . Also a donation of Shower gel , some going to the Covid 19 ward at Pinderfields Hospital , as they are desperately in need .#itswhatwedo @PBiscombe pic.twitter.com/hB8NjpDeEq
— Mrs Horler at Frank’s Place (@Mrs_Horler_FP) April 16, 2020
Colleagues at Co-op Academy Leeds have also been making PPE at home.
Not only has one member of staff been busy helping @Mrs_Horler_FP with food deliveries to our most in need families, she’s also been sewing bags for the nurses uniforms and knitting these to help when wearing masks all day #ItsWhatWeDo pic.twitter.com/UKWDXPeFJN
— Co-op Academy Leeds (@CoopLeeds) May 2, 2020
One of our amazing Year Managers and her partner making PPE at home #ItsWhatWeDo #StayHome pic.twitter.com/JIpstoo27Z
— Co-op Academy Leeds (@CoopLeeds) May 1, 2020
We are incredibly proud of our colleagues who are doing everything they can to support our communities.