West Sussex crafting group has 300 volunteers making free items for NHS staff and other keyworkers

The Crafting for Covid group was set up by Victoria Hill in April and although it is based in Worthing, it has supported a large number of people across the county.

There are now more than 300 members, all volunteers, making items such as ear protectors, headbands with buttons, hearts for patients and scrub bags.

Victoria said: “The community spirit has been amazing. We have also had members who have volunteered to drop off the supplies and items to the keyworkers, and people donating buttons, fabrics and other materials.

“By creating connections between the many members, the group has also helped to combat the feeling of loneliness that the current lockdown situation has created.”

Victoria and her six-year-old daughter Emily started by knitting headbands for keyworkers and sewing hearts for Covid-19 patients.

Realising there was a high demand for these items, they decided to set up a Facebook craft group so people could work together and make larger quantities.

Victoria said there had been a huge amount of help from many wonderful people, including Sarah Priest, who has been running the administration of the group around the clock as well as making things, and Sue Nea, who has made items, raised money for fabrics and worked all hours requesting fabric donations to make scrub bags.

Items have been made for, among others, St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing, Mill View Hospital in Hove, the Urgent Treatment Centre in Crawley, the HART team at Gatwick and other paramedics, Worthing and Brighton ambulance stations, the radiography department in Brighton, Larkswood Residential Home, Guardian Angel carers, wards at Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, plus various care workers and district nurses.

Victoria said: “We still need volunteers to help make these items and for donations of materials, etc., so please join the group and share the group.”

Find Crafting for Covid on Facebook for more information.

If any NHS and keyworkers need any of the items being made, please email [email protected]

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