GO AD-FREE. Get 2 Months Digital Subscription for ONLY £1! Use code 2FOR1
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
GO AD-FREE. Get 2 Months Digital Subscription for ONLY £1! Use code 2FOR1
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
More schools have been using their design and technology departments to make PPE for frontline workers.
Teachers and pupils have been busy making visors to fill the gaps in health services and other organisations which need visors to protect staff.
A small working group from The Ebbsfleet Academy has made visors for Darent Valley Hospital, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Medway Maritime Hospital and Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
Design and technology teacher Jon Kelly enlisted the help of his wife and son.
He said: "I was confident that with a small amount of help we would be able to manufacture the visors in the academy’s design and technology workshop.
"We already had the necessary materials in stock and the laser equipment needed to start production immediately.
“We have currently used all our stock of polypropylene, but thanks to Ms Shergill (the school's head teacher) who has kindly agreed to fund the purchase of more, we are waiting for a delivery any day now.
"We will then be straight back into production.
“I would just like to thank other members of academy staff, Navpreet Gallimore, director of learning for art, design and technology for sourcing materials and keeping us in production and Nicola Vaughan, design and technology technician for organising the distribution. It really has been a great team effort.”
Jon was joined by his friend Alex Lister who is governor for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
He added: “It’s been great to be part of something that you know is making a difference to individuals in the NHS working night and day to save lives.
"I personally want to thank Mr Kelly, his family and the academy for their support.
"I can confirm that the PPE visors delivered yesterday have already been allocated and are being used.”
A group of pupils at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys has also banded together to make visors.
Theo Pack-Cooper, Sam Harris, Tommy Clinch and Leo Reeves got involved after seeing a plea on Facebook from Dartford councillor Kelly Grehan asking people with 3D printers to make the face shields.
All of the boys have 3D printers at home and have joined the effort of north Kent-based printing hobbyists to make face shields.
Some of the boys' parents work within hospitals which motivated them to join the effort.
They have been supported by their school and between then they have contributed more than 600 visors.
David Brooker, head of DT at the school said: “It was a great pleasure to see what the boys have been producing for local services.
"The design and manufacture were very high quality. Our DT department were able to provide a box of acetate to make the shield for the face masks, two boxes of disposable gloves, and a box of protective glasses.
"We really do have some fantastically skilled students at the school, who are fantastic role models”
The GoFundMe page supporting the effort has reached more than £8,000.
The Thomas Aveling School in Rochester has donated visors to care homes, doctor's surgeries, cleaners, the probation service and Karsons Pharmacy in Chatham.
The school's design and technology department has made and donated 385 visors so far.
Earlier this month, we reported Greenacre Academy's efforts to make visors. The school, in Walderslade, had a small team making PPE for Medway hospital.
Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend
