Sewing machine replace punters in Yorkshire bar helping NHS heroes

Nikki Schofield at Bar 10 at Lindley, Huddersfield which has been turned into a sewing factory with friends Geraldine Mulligan, Julie Smith-Moorhouse, Ashley Durman, Gail Godfrey, Eman Ramadan. Picture Tony Johnson

Nikki Schofield, owner of Bar 10 in Lindley, was inspired to get sewing after seeing an appeal for scrub bags for hospital workers on her local Covid-Aid Facebook group. And instead of staying at home, she opened up her bar and roped in six of her friends to help.

They have already made more than 100 bags, which are being donated to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital - and are in need of material to keep them going.

Ms Schofield said: “I do a lot of sewing myself, so it just made sense, seeing as my bar was closed and I didn’t have anything else to do, so I thought, ‘why not set up a little workshop’.

Licensee Nikki Schofield with friend Eman Ramadan among the volunteers producing laundry bags for the NHS In Huddersfield and Halifax. .Picture Tony Johnson

“We’ve been beavering away - just three of us at a time, so we have plenty of space between us, and we wear masks.

“I think the whole nation is doing what they can to help. I live just five minutes’ away from the hospital, so it’s a constant reminder of the amazing work the staff there are doing.”

Ms Schofield is using her late mother’s Bernina sewing machine, which said is “older than I am”.

“She would be so proud of what we’re doing,” she added.

Gail Godfrey,, Geraldine Mulligan, Julie Smith-Moorhouse, Ashley Durman, Licensee Nikki Schofield and Eman Ramadan. Picture Tony Johnson

The group are also collecting toiletries to give to healthcare workers and a local women’s refuge. Any donations of cotton, in particular new pillow cases, or new toiletries, can be dropped off at the bar on Lidget Street.