Yorkshire pupil power helps distribute thousands of face shields for NHS

Sixth form students across Yorkshire are distributing thousands of face shields for the NHS in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Ruth Dacey
Published 27th May 2020, 13:15 BST
Updated 27th May 2020, 13:18 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Teams of students from schools and colleges across Yorkshire have teamed up with the University of Hull and started distributing more than 13,000 face shields to help fulfil the vital NHS demand for PPE.

The work is part of the university's collaboration project to produce face shields to support the NHS and other healthcare organisations in preventing the spread of Covid-19. After a request from NHS consultants, the team adapted designs shared by the engineering and maker community to suit their 3D printers and to fit with the feedback from medical consultants.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fiona Walkley, from the University of Hull, who is helping co-ordinate the project, said the work started to identify and supply organisations that are reporting difficulties in accessing PPE stock from their normal suppliers.

Pictured, Dr Louise France, from the University of Hull. Dr France is part of the a team of engineers from the university who have worked around the clock to create the new designs for face shield, which can be produced by high volume manufacturing techniques, such as laser cutting and injection moulding, rather than 3D printing. Photo credit: PAPictured, Dr Louise France, from the University of Hull. Dr France is part of the a team of engineers from the university who have worked around the clock to create the new designs for face shield, which can be produced by high volume manufacturing techniques, such as laser cutting and injection moulding, rather than 3D printing. Photo credit: PA
Pictured, Dr Louise France, from the University of Hull. Dr France is part of the a team of engineers from the university who have worked around the clock to create the new designs for face shield, which can be produced by high volume manufacturing techniques, such as laser cutting and injection moulding, rather than 3D printing. Photo credit: PA

"We wanted to reach into communities in the region to get the face shields out and we realised this was a way to do it".

"It helps those who need the face shields – and it also helps those sixth formers to build their skills and give back to their communities at this important time".

Join our new coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get itThe schools and colleges have been conducting virtual meetings, generating a list of those organisations in need of PPE, and arranging delivery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Working to specific areas and post codes, the students have identified and contacted the health and social care organisations including care homes, funeral directors, and GP surgeries.

Pictured, pupils fromRon Dearing UTC, in Hull. The schools and colleges have been conducting virtual meetings, generating a list of those organisations in need of PPE, and arranging delivery. Photo credit: otherPictured, pupils fromRon Dearing UTC, in Hull. The schools and colleges have been conducting virtual meetings, generating a list of those organisations in need of PPE, and arranging delivery. Photo credit: other
Pictured, pupils fromRon Dearing UTC, in Hull. The schools and colleges have been conducting virtual meetings, generating a list of those organisations in need of PPE, and arranging delivery. Photo credit: other

Schools and colleges taking part from the Hull include Ron Dearing UTC, Hull Collegiate School and St Mary’s College Sixth Form.

Lydia Black, a sixth form student, at Hull Collegiate, said the project had been a great opportunity for her self an fellow students to use their new found free time to help others despite being stuck at home.

She said: "This project has not only helped others protect themselves as we enter a new phase of lockdown, but has also helped us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Through contacting different businesses, companies and key workers, it has given us major organisational and communicative skills, as well as the obvious buzz of helping others.

Fiona Walkley, from the University of Hull, is helping co-ordinate the project. She said the work startedto identify and supply organisations that are reporting difficulties in accessing PPE stock from their normal suppliers.Photo credit: otherFiona Walkley, from the University of Hull, is helping co-ordinate the project. She said the work startedto identify and supply organisations that are reporting difficulties in accessing PPE stock from their normal suppliers.Photo credit: other
Fiona Walkley, from the University of Hull, is helping co-ordinate the project. She said the work startedto identify and supply organisations that are reporting difficulties in accessing PPE stock from their normal suppliers.Photo credit: other

"It has also encouraged me to become more active when it comes to other volunteer work, so when the next opportunity to help comes around, I will certainly say yes after this experience."

From the East Riding of Yorkshire Preston Holderness Academy & Sixth Form College, Beverley Grammar School, South Hunsley Sixth Form College, Cottingham Sixth Form College, Hornsea HSLC Sixth Form, Driffield Sixth Form and Headlands School Sixth Form are taking part.

While elsewhere, in North Yorkshire, Whitby Sixth Form college are involved with John Leggott Sixth Form College and Franklin Sixth Form College, from North Lincolnshire also helping.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

More than £80,000 has been raised for the project from a University of Hull appeal to fund additional materials to meet high demand for the face shields from the NHS and other healthcare organisations in the region.Collaborating with a local industry partner, Advanced Plastics, the team has increased capacity to over 70,000 per week – certified to the highest EU standards – to buoy up the national supply chain.

Pictured, Brian Houston, lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hull, looks at a design for a faceguard as a bank of the 3D-printers produce 3D-printed faceguards to help health service staff tackle coronavirus. PA Photo Copyright: paPictured, Brian Houston, lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hull, looks at a design for a faceguard as a bank of the 3D-printers produce 3D-printed faceguards to help health service staff tackle coronavirus. PA Photo Copyright: pa
Pictured, Brian Houston, lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hull, looks at a design for a faceguard as a bank of the 3D-printers produce 3D-printed faceguards to help health service staff tackle coronavirus. PA Photo Copyright: pa

Nathan Brown, senior lecturer from the department of engineering at the University of Hull and lead on this project, said: "Across the university, we have worked together to develop the designs, increase production capacity, raise funds to invest in additional materials, manage a dynamic supply chain and organise distribution.

"To see the schools and colleges in the region getting involved is fantastic. It is a great example of what can be achieved when everyone gets behind a project."

________________________________

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Related topics:North YorkshireNHSFacebookPPECovid-19