Published:
During this time of need, staff at the Heriot-Watt campus in Galashiels have come together to do their bit for the local community – and the fight against Covid-19.
The campus, home to the school of Textiles and Design, are using own materials to make scrubs that will benefit and protect frontline workers in the local area.
Four members of staff have volunteered to tailor a scrub design out of fabric and starting only last week, are in the process of making 70 sets of scrubs in a variety of sizes with the aim of a further 100 more.
The 100% cotton scrubs will be distributed free of charge to local care homes and the NHS – wherever it is needed to help stop the spread of the virus. The products are life-long protection products – not just for Covid-19.
Head of the School of Textiles and Design, Professor Fiona Waldron said: “As a school of textiles and design we have the materials to help our local community. Our staff who have come forward to volunteer have been a great inspiration and they are working hard, in social distancing conditions, to make as many scrubs as they can.
“In these unprecedented times if we can help even a few, then it is worth it.”
Jane Robertson, one of the volunteer staff at the Borders campus said: “Staff from the School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels have all been delighted to help make PPE for our Key workers.
“We have the perfect equipment space and expertise to help provide the key workers with what they need, so we are very happy to help and feel that it our moral obligation to do so.
“We have been joking that these will be the best made scrubs in the country, as we are all finding it difficult to let the quality slip in order to sew them faster!”
The team have now been asked to help by the Covid Safety Network to make 1000 cotton masks for the NHS to go into PPE care boxes as part of their Care Boxes 4 Care Homes initiative.
The COVID Safety Network have created the first-ever Covid-19 care boxes that provide eco-friendly and reusable PPE and cleaning options for those working in care homes, refugee centres or for residential homes in need.
These care boxes are designed to include everything staff need to protect themselves and others. Importantly, they contain a guide on how to introduce PPE to neurodiverse individuals.
Learn more about the initiative here – www.covidsafetynetwork.com
Susan Kerr
Media Relations Officer
E: susan.kerr@hw.ac.uk