Burnley high school praised for 'generous' PPE donations – but needs help sourcing vital materials

Louane Frances, with Sir John Thursby staff including (left to right) Mark Bithell, Rob Boomhead and Tom Copley, have been working around the clock to make PPE for frontline staff.

The school has delivered a total of 180 visors to frontline staff since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and staff are hoping to carry on providing this PPE on a weekly basis.

However, they are running low on the raw materials needed to make the visors and are appealing to any businesses who may be able to help them get hold of polypropylene or acetate.

All visors are given free of charge to local hospitals, hospices, surgeries and care homes. The work is carried out voluntarily by staff with the materials paid for by the school and through donations.

Alex Walker, director of performance and delivery NHS East Lancashire and NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “We are incredibly thankful to the staff at Sir John Thursby Community College for generously donating their time and resources in the provision of these visors.

"These are challenging times and the NHS, health and care staff across Pennine Lancashire need an inordinate amount of PPE so any other donations are welcome and well received. I would like to say a big thank you to those businesses and organisations like Sir John Thursby Community College for their ongoing generosity and support.”

For any businesses able to supply polypropylene or acetate, Sir John Thursby's head of design technology, Louane Frances, can be contacted on 07568521504.

Any businesses wanting to donate PPE to the clinical commissioning groups, can email [email protected] or ring 01282 644623.