A community fund set up to support local projects is helping a group of North Yorkshire volunteers making scrubs for NHS staff in Yorkshire during the Covid-19 crisis.
Residents on Broadacres Housing Association’s Community Development Fund Panel have approved a grant of £500 to North Yorkshire Scrubs.
The money is already being used to buy fabric to make scrubs for NHS staff working at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.
North Yorkshire Scrubs Coordinator Sarah Pym said: “North Yorkshire Scrubs, which is part of the Yorkshire Scrubs – for Love of Scrubs group, was set up on the 9th April to provide scrubs for NHS staff working in the front-line of the Covid-19 crisis within Yorkshire. The phone call I received from the Friarage (FHN) asking for help started it all off.
“Through this kind donation from Broadacres, along with donations from other organisations and individuals, we have managed to raise £6,500 in just over two weeks, which is amazing.
“This has enabled us to buy the fabric needed to make 300 lightweight scrubs for staff at the FHN to wear under their PPE, and we’re now also busy making more for Harrogate District Hospital (HDH) and other NHS facilities in both this area and in other parts of Yorkshire.”
Sarah says there are now around 200 volunteers in the North Yorkshire Scrubs group, including people who are sewing/making the scrubs and delivery drivers. The volunteers come from far and wide, from Easingwold to Boroughbridge, out towards Malton, and up to Richmond, with collection/drop off points in Bedale, Masham, Ripon, Northallerton and Thirsk.
She adds: “We are absolutely delighted with the support we have received from local organisations and members of the public, either through their financial donations and/or by utilising their skills and time.
“As well as scrubs, we’re also making hats, and have paused the laundry bag making due to the success of our initial bag appeal. We observe all the government guidelines and strict social distancing at all times.
“I have likened our sewing machines to being like the little ships of Dunkirk. It’s an extraordinary situation but it’s bringing people together as part an amazing effort to help our NHS heroes.”
Broadacres’ resident Rosemary Colebrook, who is on the Community Development Fund Panel, said: “When we heard about this amazing project, we couldn’t agree funding fast enough and we’re delighted the money is already being put to such great use.
“It’s a perfect example of why the Community Development Fund is so important.”
Anyone who would like to support North Yorkshire Scrubs, either by making a donation or volunteering, can do so by joining their Facebook Group, which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/223835788885831/ or by searching ‘North Yorkshire Scrubs’ on Facebook.
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