Reminiscent of a wartime effort, schools across Havering are pulling together to create and donate PPE (personal protective equipment) as NHS staff continue to report grave shortages.

Romford Recorder: Technician Samantha Doe at work creating face shields, working as cleanly as possible. Picture: Lee DoeTechnician Samantha Doe at work creating face shields, working as cleanly as possible. Picture: Lee Doe (Image: Lee Doe)

Inspired by design technology (DT) teachers, across the country springing into action, two DT teachers from Upminster’s Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School have made a batch of 35 face shields which they gave out to GP surgeries, a pharmacy and a funeral directors.

The shields are not certified PPE, but this is made clear on reception and samples have also been given to be approved.

Subject leader for DT, Lee Doe, who worked with her technician Samantha Cadman, said: “We always state that if official PPE is available, they should use it, but so many people have absolutely nothing, and people are so scared.

“We just used materials we had in stock for pupil projects. We made them in the workshop but tried to work as cleanly as possible.”

Romford Recorder: Thirty face shields have already been donated from the DT duo, with more in the pipeline. Picture: Lee DoeThirty face shields have already been donated from the DT duo, with more in the pipeline. Picture: Lee Doe (Image: Lee Doe)

With orders to receive more materials in place, the pair plan to make more batches to give out to Saint Francis Hospice which is in desperate need of PPE as well as more GPs and pharmacies.

Redden Court School in Harold Wood has also risen to the challenge.

Not only are they creating 20 shields an hour to go to Queen’s Hospital from their DT super team, it has donated 200 science goggles also to be used by frontliners in hospitals.

Emerson Park Academy has also said it is collecting gloves and goggles also to be delivered to Queen’s.

It comes after Havering Council made an “urgent request” on Wednesday calling for borough’s businesses – including nail bars, beauty salons, builders, decorators, tattooists and cleaning companies – for vital equipment to help the fight against coronavirus.

Leader of Havering Council, councillor Damian White, said: “This an urgent call to our businesses using PPE as part of our borough’s joint response to a care crisis caused by this awful virus.

“We must get all available equipment that might be sitting in your store cupboard out to our Havering Heroes so I’m asking businesses to join the fight with us and donate or sell to us at cost price what they have.”

Romford Recorder: There With You - the Romford Recorder's campaign to help everyone get through coronavirus crisis.There With You - the Romford Recorder's campaign to help everyone get through coronavirus crisis. (Image: Archant)