VOLUNTEERS in and around Salisbury have been rising to the challenge of the Covid-19 outbreak by manufacturing hundreds of items of medical clothing for NHS and care workers.

Salisbury Makers Hub and Tisbury’s Miracle Makers are two newly-formed groups set up to sew scrubs, scrub bags, masks and ear-savers for staff in hospitals, care homes and GP practices. 

The former is the brainchild of retired headteacher, Carol Kite, 71, who, aware of people that were already doing their bit, brought everyone together to ramp up production. 

Salisbury Journal:

“I just had the feeling that if I put it all together we could produce more, it was all about combining our efforts,” she said.

“As an ex headteacher I have lots of contacts around Salisbury so I was able to draw people in and far more people have come in than I would have ever imagined.”

In just 10 days, more than 1,000 people joined the group and 1,500 items of clothing and scrub bags have been made and donated.

While Salisbury District Hospital doesn’t need scrubs, GP practices who don’t normally use them, now do, says Carol. Sewing saves them the cost and trouble of buying their own equipment.

In the village of Tisbury, 47-year-old Valerie Ridout, helped by her friend Elizabeth Jones and her three children, set up a similar group after being inspired by other scrub hubs on Facebook. The response has been equally overwhelming.

Salisbury Journal:

She said: “I set [the group] up on April 18 and it’s been absolutely crazy. My phone didn’t stop all day with people adding to the group, offering to give material.

“There’s over 100 people in it and to keep everything co-ordinated and ticking over I literally don’t stop.”

Through social media, the group has been able to appeal for donations of bed sheets, pillow cases and cotton fabric – all of which have to be washed beforehand – which are then sewn into scrub bags, masks, headbands and ear-savers by the 35 volunteer sewers across Tisbury and Shaftesbury who have stepped up to put their skills to good use.

These include 16-year-old Poppy from Sutton Mandeville and Maisie, from Tisbury, aged 12.

Valerie, who normally works for Wiltshire Council, then delivers them to whoever may need them - a task which has also helped her cope with her mental health.

She added: “The first two weeks I experienced anxiety and had panic attacks, I didn’t eat for a week. With a bit of help I understood that I could get through it and with [the group] and a few other bits and pieces I am so busy that it’s keeping me going.”

So far the group have sewn and distributed more than 400 items of clothing and scrub bags to Salisbury District Hospital’s maternity ward, Salisbury Medical Practice, Albany House, Willowcroft, Bemerton Lodge, Hays House and Red Jacket Specialist Care.

For more information about the groups visit Tisbury’s Miracle Makers and Salisbury Makers Hub’s Facebook pages.