Connections

The speed at which local teams have mobilised to create equipment for those who need it has been incredible. Everyone is working out systems for making it work as they go. We are pulling together and will share any insights, learnings or information from across this network which could help others facing similar situations.

This is hopefully a short-lived crisis. If we share what we have each managed to make work well, we can collectively build agile models to respond quickly and effectively to supply what is needed locally. Any tips or information you'd like to share, please email jen@astitchintime.cc and we will ensure all ideas, recommendations and resources are appropriately credited as we build a shared online resource.

UK textile manufacturers and factories - please visit the British Textile Consortium to see how you can become part of the national supply chain providing proper PPE for the NHS and key workers. Other useful resources including official specifications and guidance can be found via The Frontline Map.

Local and national groups creating PPE

There are many local groups across the country playing a part in tacking the current PPE shortage. Below is an up-to-date list of all the initiatives we are aware of.

To be added to or removed from this list, or if you can recommend a link or information about any offline groups with details of how people can connect, please contact info@astitchintime.cc.

Nationwide initiatives

3D Crowd - a network of over 7000 volunteers 3D printing face shields for carers, community GPs and nurses, care home and NHS staff. They are fundraising and looking for more volunteers, both those with 3D printers and those who can help in other ways. Orders are currently significantly exceeding production capacity.

For the Love of Scrubs are coordinating a comprehensive UK effort via Facebook to provide scrubs for front line hospital staff. They also have local groups.

Helping Dress Medics - a group of volunteers, most of whom usually work producing costumes for film, tv and theatre, producing scrubs for the NHS.

Make Masks - A grassroots US initiative with a UK off-shoot sewing masks for those affected by PPE shortages.

Masks for NHS Heroes - national fundraising drive to buy commercial PPE for front-line hospital staff. Accepting requests for PPE from hospital procurement departments.

Scrubs Glorious Scrubs - a smaller initiative of 400 volunteers across the UK making scrubs and scrub bags for NHS workers.

Scrub Hub is a significant network of voluntary community groups across the UK who are making scrubs to order for NHS staff.

Scrub Up - a group creating and using their own open source patterns and instructions to make scrubs for the NHS.

Volunteer Riders UK - a UK network of bikers distributing PPE to frontline workers, connecting with makers and those who need PPE through their facebook group.

London

CSM Loves NHS - a Central Saint Martins art school initiative inviting University of the Arts staff students and the public to help make scrubs.

London Scrubs Hub - a small team of sewers in London making protective scrubs at home for frontline NHS staff.

Make Town, Hackney - Volunteer Sewing Army - providing packs of fabric and patterns for experienced sewers to collect and return for them to distribute to individuals.

Peoples Masks - mask making for carers, home carers, shopkeepers and others.

South London - For the Love of Scrubs - subgroup supplying London hospitals.

South London Scrubbers - a community initiative created in reaction to COVID-19, financing and sewing scrubs for the NHS.

There are various local Scrub Hubs across London:

  • East London – Newham & Tower Hamlets
  • Farringdon
  • Hackney and Central London
  • Islington and North Hackney
  • North / North West London
  • South East London
  • Tower Hamlets & South Hackney
  • Waltham Forest & surrounding
  • Wandsworth/SW London

Scotland

Edinburgh Mask Makers - a collective of home sewing enthusiasts making free masks for essential workers facing the public, care workers, anyone vulnerable in the community and at risk individuals.

Edinburgh Scrub Hub - a Scrub Hub group.

For the Love of Scrub Bags Glasgow - Scrub bags for key workers across Glasgow.

NHS Scotland For the Love of Scrubs - is the Scottish off-shoot of the UK wide For the Love of Scrubs initiative.

NHS Scotland For the Love of Gowns - making gowns for GPs across Scotland.

Thomas Rae - a Glasgow tailor making masks. He is accepting fabric donations.

Northern Ireland

NI Scrubs Group - Scrubs for medics, people working in care homes and others. Also providing pre cut material to be sewn.

North West England

Let's Sew Scrubs for the NHS - a group making scrubs in the Barnsley, Huddersfield, Wakefield area.

Sewing for Wirral & Chester NHS (FTLOS) - coordinating local sewers to help provide much needed items for hospitals and clinics in Wirral and Chester.

Sew Support, a Hug in Fabric - a network of small teams of makers across West Cumbria sewing scrubs, gowns, bags, hats and headbands for GPs. Not online, but jen@astitchintime.cc is part of this collective and can connect you.

Scrub Up Cumbria - Cockermouth based group making scrubs for GP surgeries in Cockermouth and Keswick.

Scrub Up Wirral and Liverpool - a small group making scrubs, face masks and headbands.

There are also several Scrub Hub Groups:

North East England

Bridlington Scrub Makers - a For the Love of Scrubs subgroup.

Harrogate Scrubbers - sewing scrubs to support health and care staff in the Harrogate and District Foundation Trust and the wider Harrogate area.

Yorkshire Scrubs - a For the Love of Scrubs subgroup creating scrubs, headbands, masks and bags for hospitals for front line workers.

There are several Scrub Hub groups:

  • County Durham
  • Sheffield (also covering Chesterfield and Worksop)
  • Leeds and York

Midlands/Central England

Derby - For the Love of Scrubs - subgroup coordinating getting scrubs donated to Derby Royal Hospital and Burton Hospital.

Ecotextura's Mask Force - a textile start-up donating free homemade masks to carers, the elderly, and vulnerable people in the Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire area. They are also looking for volunteer sewers and drivers.

Hitchingbrooke and Peterborough - For the Love of Scrubs - a subgroup covering scrubs, scrub bags, hats and headbands.

For the Love of Scrubs - Lincolnshire - subgroup providing the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and care groups within the area with scrubs and other vital accessories.

Nottingham - For the Love of Scrubs - subgroup covering Nottinghamshire.

For the Love of Scrubs Stamford, Lincs/Rutland - Lincolnshire subgroup.

Worcestershire - For the Love of Scrubs - Worcestershire subgroup.

There are also several Scrub Hub groups:

South East England

Arun GPs/Nurse Scrub Community Circle - West Sussex group making scrubs for GPs and nurses.

Berkshire - For the Love of Scrubs - providing scrubs for local surgeries, nurses, hospitals, midwives and care assistants.

Scrubs For Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust - sewing scrubs for GPs, nurses, care homes etc in the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust area.

There are also several Scrub Hub groups:

  • Brighton
  • Chichester, West Sussex
  • Claygate, Surrey
  • Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon
  • Fareham
  • Hertfordshire Scrub Hub (also covering Luton & Dunstable Hospital area)
  • Hampshire
  • Kent & Local Area

South West England

Cornwall Scrubs - a group of over 700 volunteers creating scrubs, hats and bags for hospitals.

Cornwall Scrubs and Masks - volunteers making face masks and scrubs for GPs, ambulance workers, care home staff, community midwives and more.

Scrubs for the NHS - Bath - a community group covering the Bath and North East Somerset area with volunteers making scrubs, laundry bags, scrub caps and headbands (now part of Scrub Hub).

Somerset Scrubs - a collective of local sub-groups making scrubs and bags (now part of Scrub Hub).

North Devon Scrubs Group - supporting North Devon NHS Hospitals and practices by providing scrubs.

Mid Devon Scrubs Angels - supporting Mid Devon NHS Hospitals and practices by providing scrubs.

South Devon Scrubs Angels - supporting South Devon NHS Hospitals and practices by providing scrubs.

For the Love of Scrubs East Dorset - a FTLOS subgroup.

There are also several Scrub Hubs:

  • South Gloucestershire
  • Bristol Bath & Weston Super Mare
  • Gloucestershire Tewkesbury, Cheltenham & Forest of Dean

Wales

North Wales For the Love of Scrubs - a FTLOS sub group.

North Wales Covid Face Sheild - a network of 3D printers creating face shields.

For the Love of Scrubs- Hywel Dda Carmarthenshire - subgroup coordinating Prince Phillip Hospital Llanelli and Glangwili/West Wales General Hospital Carmarthen.

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