• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Northumberland C19 Sewing Group. Alone Together and an Amazing Team, Five month summary. A project started at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic has now made more than 4,600 items to help protect those working on the front line: from doctors and nurses to carers and opticians. Northumberland C19 Sewing was set up in April as a spin-off to Northeast England Sewing for the Front Line (NESFL*) by Michelle Dixon of Berwick and Annie Robinson from Lowick. They realised there was a specific need to supply items locally, primarily Berwick and surrounding areas. The support and generosity of the village hall committees at East Ord and Lowick enabled these two halls to be used to store supplies and co-ordinate the project. At its peak, the team of dedicated volunteer stitchers and drivers reached 60, from Chirnside to Rothbury. All gave their time, materials and skills freely and a core of 10 stitchers is continuing to meet local needs. One amazing 96-year-old lady is still knitting face mask buddies. Some individuals made several items, whilst others have made over 500 pieces, all in their own East Ord Village Hall (Volunteers in the Lowick Village Hall (Volunteers in the picture) Angela, Theresa and Michelle. homes. Every contribution was equally valued. picture) Lesley, Helen, Linda and Janet Among the initial recipients were NHS staff at Berwick and Alnwick infirmaries, GP surgeries in Berwick, Wooler, Belford and Coldstream, paramedics in Berwick and Wooler, district and community nurses from Duns to Beadnell then later down to Foundry House in Bedlington, carers from Scottish Borders to Beadnell and care homes in Berwick and Wooler. Schools then became a focus, followed by opticians and dentists. It became apparent that many dental practitioners had donated their scrubs and gowns to front line staff at Cramlington Hospital, so the group then provided items south of the county. Word also got around and families of stitchers from Edinburgh to Exeter also requested items. One GP practice from Wooler sent a card summing up how recipients felt: “We just wanted to thank you for the scrub bags, which are proving really useful, and for all the scrubs. It was so kind and all the different patterns really made us smile. I would have loved to insist that Dr Lambourne wore the flowery ones but alas they didn’t fit! Please also thank the children for the cards” Dr Lambourn (left, in Helping Dress Medics NHS blue fabric scrubs) and Dr Batley (right, in donated material scrubs and holding a floral gown) modelling items made Teachers and staff from Lowick School made a cake for as a thank you for their scrubs There were hundreds of donations of duvets and bedding for making scrubs and gowns in all sorts of patterns, material including more than 100 metres of NHS fabric from Helping Dress Medics (HDM) and new children's bedding from Morrisons. A donation of Newcastle United fabric proved extremely popular and very timely as the group had received a request to adapt some T-shirts for a young local Magpies supporter who has cancer. Nothing went to waste: off cuts made face coverings, headbands, facemask buddies and even Central line bags that went to Edinburgh Children’s hospital . Even the scraps were donated to Margaret Kenny in Lowick for a forthcoming Rag-rugging project that she is undertaking at Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick. There are no words that can express the gratitude of everyone working towards one goal in helping to restrict the spread of the Covid-19 Virus, protect our frontline staff and provide some comfort. One Care Home had asked for the groups help as their cleaner had made staff gowns out of bin liners! A card received from the staff at St Georges Hospital (above right) after providing their blue HDM scrubs was addressed to the “Sewing Angels” and sums up how the recipients felt. Karen and Ritchie Blake from Lowick village shop with one of Bear in the window at Berwick Infirmary the Corona teddies (made by C19 stitcher Gail Hek). Their support to the project and to the wider community has been greatly appreciated. Ritchie is sporting an apron and face covering made from the donation of Newcastle United Material. Face coverings, some have been adapted for people with hearing aids, are available at the village shop. The Corona teddies have also been given to front line staff, GP surgeries and other supporters and can be seen in their windows. The Belford Ladies group were asked to provide 30 face coverings for patients attending GP surgeries, Barbara Twinham asked if the group could help as this would be supplying 12 surgeries from Norham to Morpeth as part of the North Primary Care Network (PCN). To date 960 have been provided to 13 surgeries from Coldstream to Morpeth and continue to be replenished. Jane Cannam from North PCN was extremely grateful and said "your response to the need for face coverings has been so valued. We at the Well Up North PCN cannot thank you enough for the coverings made for us and our patient group. This has ensured everyone in and coming in to surgery was protected in line with guidance. We so appreciate the community effort of your team and the support this has been in managing the spread of the virus". Children from Lowick and Berwick have been playing their part in making thank you A logo was created by an cards which were added to the deliveries and showed such powerful messages: one little 11- year- old for the group 9 year old girl expressed her thanks for the surgery she had undergone 6 months earlier entitled “Alone Together” and another Lowick child’s card said “she was inspired to save lives”. which was so very pertinent. Annie was touched one morning when she arrived at Lowick Village Hall and some children had left some painted pebbles. In July, East Ord Village Hall closed, where Michelle Dixon had coordinated a fabulous team. Everything was then transferred to Lowick. The Salvation Army took back some of their earlier donations of bedding, now not needed. Michelle and Annie felt blessed with having such an incredible team to work with and this project has certainly shown what a wonderful community we live in and the generosity of the public and businesses has just been astounding. Although demand has slowed down and the intensity of demand has diminished, there is still activity going on. Lowick Village Hall (LVH) closed its doors on 7th September but in the last week, one stitcher came down from Chirnside to collect a pack for making up scrubs for one of the Berwick opticians who is going into local Care Homes. Additionally, one of the NESFL Coordinators (from Seaton Sluice) delivered some scrubs and has collected 30 scrub bags, 140 face mask buddies and 20 pairs of hearts which we had spare. These went to the Cardiothoracic Unit at Freeman Hospital. Lowick Village Hall Barbara, Kay, Eileen and Ruth. The photos above show the stitchers coming down from Berwick and Foulden using LVH in the last week. In the week after LVH closed, a delivery of a further 150 face coverings for seven GP surgeries was made and a request for support in making 60 sets of scrubs to be made for new staff in local surgeries and hospitals and for opticians. There are just so many people to thank: from the very special group of stitchers and drivers to those that have donated to the project and everyone that helped with this incredible achievement. Far too many to acknowledge here so a full list is on the website www.berwickartsandcraftsgroup.btck.co.uk The entire project has had a significant impact on everyone involved. The gratitude expressed by recipients has been touching and this has been so very much appreciated by the volunteers who were just so grateful to be able to do something positive in such an unprecedented situation. Don’t forget to stay safe and help support everything our front line staff have worked so hard towards. * NESFL was started by Zoe Worrall to provide items for front line staff in the NHS, from the Scottish Borders down to Yorkshire. Audra Peacock was initially one of the Northumberland Coordinators. .

Load more

  2

Copy Link