Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, a secondary school academy in Lincoln, has drawn on the skills and enterprise of its Design and Technology department to produce protective visors for those workers in hospitals, care homes, dental surgeries, opticians and for the police.
The initiative to draw on the expertise of its Design and Technology staff and resources was the result of head teacher Dale Hardy becoming aware from friends and neighbours of personal protective equipment shortages. Under the direction and leadership of the school’s Head of D&T and Art, Dave Palethorpe, the first batch of 1000 visors produced at the school were made available to Lincoln County Hospital.
Mr Palethorpe, assisted by the D&T Technician Mrs Liz Watson, has since gone on to produce a further 3,000 visors. These have been made available to health sector staff working in the hospital’s critical care, radiography and x-ray departments, along with those working in care homes, dentist practices, opticians and GP surgeries. The increased production also included 200 visors being supplied to Lincolnshire Police following a request for support from Marc Jones, the county’s police and crime commissioner.
The school raised the money to fund materials through GoFundMe, successfully raising £1,270 in just two days.
Headteacher, Dale Hardy, told the Lincolnite who covered this positive good news story: “The school has always placed a great deal of emphasis on playing a positive role in the local community and it’s at times like this that it really matters.
“When I heard how desperate hospital staff were for personal protection items, I was confident we could help and with Dave’s agreement and commitment we have been able to produce hundreds for NHS staff with hundreds more in the pipeline.
“If our efforts can help protect just one member of staff or patient from contracting this appalling virus then it will have been worth the effort.”
The school has been praised for its support and tremendous work by Lincoln County Hospital and the police, along with many others it has helped who are extremely grateful for the vital personal protective equipment.
