Senior School news

Companies Support School's Production of 1000s of Visors for Key Workers

15 April 2020

Companies across Norfolk, including Lotus and Norwich City Football Club, are now supporting one school’s efforts to manufacture and distribute visors to key workers.

 

Over the last fortnight, staff at Norwich School and the wider local community have come together, sourcing raw materials, funding, and assistance with manufacturing and distribution, to provide thousands of pieces of much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospices, nursing homes, hospitals and other organisations across Norfolk and beyond.

In total approximately over 30 local organisations have benefitted from some of the 3,600 face shields that have been produced at Norwich School, with more set to be included this week. Recipients include the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, (as well as hospitals in Essex and London), St John Ambulance, dozens of GP surgeries, as well as nursing and care homes across Norfolk, where the need is considered to be increasingly significant.

 

News of the school’s work spread, with other healthcare settings requesting support. Thankfully, major local players have stepped in to lend a hand, Lotus with the cutting of visors and Norwich City Football Club assisting with distribution. Production has therefore been scaled up, enabling the school to make 3000 more visors this week.

Matt Windle, Executive Director, Engineering (Lotus Cars) commented:

 

“Lotus' team of staff have been coming forward over the last few weeks offering to volunteer and support the fight against Covid-19 in any way they can. Working with the school, we have managed to significantly increase the production rates. I'd like to thank our team of volunteers for giving up their Easter weekend to do this. 2000 were produced over the weekend, with more on the way."

 

Ed Cann, the art and design teacher who originally set up the initiative to manufacture face shields, said:

 

“This has been an amazing team effort. In addition to the 3,600 we have already produced, we are now making in excess of 300 visors per day and thanks to support from local businesses, this will now increase further. Special thanks need to go to Lotus and BD&H Ltd for assisting with the cutting and production of materials, along with Thompsons Packaging Ltd for supplying boxes, Meridien Office Supplies for donating materials and also to Norwich City Football Club for their delivery service.

 

"It is amazing to see the breadth of local businesses coming together to work with Norwich School in supplying the vital PPE to the NHS and other key service providers at this time.”

 

Libby Pearson, a GP from London, whose surgery in Fulham received several of the face shields, said:

 

“The Norwich school masks arrived and they are fabulous. So easy to put together and easy to adjust for all size heads! My nurse, Samantha Trundley [pictured], put it on immediately and combined with the mask, apron and gloves she feels so much safer.

“We saw an old man last Friday for a blood test (he was clinically completely well) and it came back on Monday very abnormal. Tests have now shown he has Covid-19 so you just can’t tell. We need to be wearing this for seeing everyone as even well people are spreading the virus. It really will make such a difference and we are so grateful.”

Norwich School are expecting to deliver PPE to another five hospitals as well as several other surgeries before the school resumes term next week.

 

 

Notes

 

The full list of organisations who have received face shields manufactured by Norwich School can be found below:

 

Norfolk

 

NNUH A&E

NNUH

Lawson Road Surgery

Norfolk Hospice

Care Home (NR7)

Long Stratton Surgery

Loddon Surgery

Pulham Market Surgery

Harleston Surgery

Poringland surgery

Diss Surgery

Norwich Practices (Walk in Centre)

Lakenham Surgery

Lionwood Medical Practice

St Stephensgate Medical Practice

Bacon Road Medical Centre

West Pottergate Medical Practice

Coastal Practice (Old Palace)

Prospect Medical Practice

Oak Street Medical Practice

Woodcock Road Surgery

Magdalen Medical Practice

Castle Partnership (Mile End)

Magdalen Road Pharmacy

UEA Medical Centre

Kent COVID Ward

Abbeyfields Retirement Home

Roundwell Medical Centre

Wensum Valley Medical Practice

Trinity & Bowthorpe Med Practice (Bowthorpe)

Hellesdon Medical Practice

Old Catton Medical Practice

East Norwich Medical Centre

Thorpewood Med Grp (Thorpewood)

Taverham Partnership

St Johns Ambulance

Carlton Court Hospital

Chet valley Medical Practice

Corton House

The Park Surgery (Great Yarmouth)

Blofield surgery

Paston Surgery

Beauchamp House

Brooklands Care Home

Mattishall Surgery

Tuckswood surgery

 

Other

 

Royal Free Hospital London

Barn Close Surgery Worcestershire

Elizabeth Pearson (GP London)

Colchester Hospital

 

To be delivered

 

Julian Hospital

Hellesdon Hospital

Colman Hospital

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

James Paget

Elmham Surgery

Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Centre

North London Hospice

Barnett Hospital

Aberdeen Care home (RAB)