Brackley school making face shields to help protect key workers and health professionals during coronavirus pandemic

In only three days this week volunteers from Winchester House School in Brackley have made more than 400 face shield protective masks for key workers and other health care professionals.

Emma McGowan, the community relations manager for Winchester House School, said: "Alongside many other primary, prep and secondary schools we have gone into face shield production to ease the supply of face shields for the country's amazing key workers and other health care professionals.

"Luckily for us, Oakham School lent us a laser cutter for the lent term. So when our head of Design Technology, Martin Scouse, heard that there was a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) he borrowed the software from Oakham and we went into face shield production."

A handful of volunteers from the school have made the more than 400 masks and have distributed them (via social media) to Juniper House, Chacombe Park, Brackley Fields and Wardington House Care Homes, Washington House and Springfield Surgeries in Brackley, three surgeries in Aylesbury, the Brackley Medical Centre, Bridge House Medical Centre in Stratford, the Deddington Pharmacy, Caroline Cares for You in Brackley, 24/7 accommodation for the homeless in Oxford as well as the John Radcliffe and Milton Keynes Hospitals.

The volunteers, which include several staff members and some relatives, plan on making face shield masks for NHS workers at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury tomorrow (Thursday April 9).

Emma McGowan added: "Production is straight forward but can only go as fast as the laser cutter. After Martin cuts the 0.8 microns polypropylene on the laser cutter, five members of the McGowan family (located separately in the art room) put the shields together.

"We then rely on staff members to deliver the shields. We are all delighted to be contributing in a small way to keeping our health care professionals safe and saving lives."

The school is running short of both the polypropylene and A4 clear PVC sheets and would appreciate it if anyone can help.

Cherwell Business Supplies have already donated and delivered for free 200 A4 PVC sheets to the school gates.

Winchester House is a prep school for girls and boys in Brackley on the Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire borders.

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