Charlie Smith, a member of our Academy’s Under-11 side, is playing his part in helping NHS and care workers during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Charlie’s mother, Kathryn, is a self-employed interior designer and maker of soft furnishings.
She, along with the help of Charlie and an army of volunteers, has been making scrubs and wash bags for key workers.
Demand for the items has grown so much that Kathryn now has over 400 volunteers helping to sew items together, via the Facebook group ‘Your Sewing Machine Needs You’ and word of mouth.
It has meant that a JustGiving page has been set up for people to donate funds that can go to the purchase of fabrics to meet demand.
“It all started when a neighbour, who works for the NHS, asked me if I could make some wash bags for her and her colleagues,” said Kathryn.
“Demand on the ground is so huge that we have had to launch the fundraiser to ensure we purchase the materials to keep up!”
On Friday, Kathryn and Charlie, along with Academy Manager Tony Ellis and Community Trust Assistant Manager Siobhan McElhinney visited Kingsway Medical Centre in Rochdale and Butler Green in Oldham to deliver the items to NHS staff.
If you can help in any way, either through a donation to the JustGiving page or by helping to sew, please do.
Click HERE to visit the Just Giving page.
Click HERE to visit the ‘Your Sewing Machine Needs You’ Facebook page for more information on how to get involved, contact Kathryn at smith.kls@gmail.com.
