Teacher Uses School Lab To Make Hundreds Of Protective Masks For NHS

In a bid to make sure that's no longer the case, a group of teachers are doing their bit.

Wendy Hayes is the head of Design and Technology at Park House School, Berkshire, and has been using the school's lab to make hundreds of protective masks to help those who are putting their lives on the line.

"We are all very aware how scary it must be for those on the front line trying to do their jobs of helping and saving lives, without all of the correct kit to protect them."

Since starting just two weeks ago, Wendy, individually and with support from The Willink, her husband and others have made 261 masks, with another 80 on the way.

And after hearing about the incredible effort, other schools in the area pitched in, with staff at The Downs School making 160 of their own to help Wendy meet the demand.

This means she has been able to provide much-needed equipment to local hospitals, charities and surgeries, such as West Berkshire Community Hospital, Hospital Forensic Services, West Berkshire Food Bank and The Newbury CV19 Hot Hub.

She said: "I'm proud, but feel I'm not the one on the front line having to care for what are some incredibly poorly people, so only doing my bit, and the donations have really inspired me."

However, she can't do it alone, and while there are many other schools doing the same thing, she urges more to take up the challenge and support the NHS.

She added: "If NHS and frontline workers are struggling to get hold of the visors, they should get in touch with the Design and Technology department at their local secondary school, as they might be able to potentially provide a stopgap until the masks can be procured through official channels."