3D printing is one of my hobbies so when I found a design online to print protective masks, I gave it a try. I used A4 laminator paper to make the visor and posted a picture on Facebook asking if anyone wanted one, and they did. The first request was from a Nurse working for the NHS, so it gave me some assurance that the masks were worth producing and would be accepted by staff on the front-line.

I quickly ran out of materials and as most shops are closed, I put a request out on the Skipton Community Facebook page asking for donations for materials. The response was overwhelming. There were so many people offering their assistance in any way they could; materials, cash donations and help coordinating the project.

Another team got in touch who were already doing something similar in Skipton and a lady helped source donations of 3D printing filament, acetate and elastic. The social media response also lead to several individuals with 3D printers joining the team to help print the mask frames. To help coordinate the project I set up the ‘Covid-19 Team Shield’ Facebook group. The group now has 41 members including lots of printers, suppliers, coordinators and some of those requesting the masks.

The team have focussed on providing for the NHS indirectly, and to firms within the local areas. We’ve had requests for over 350 masks so far, and in the past week we’ve managed to deliver over 200 masks to a variety of places including care homes, pharmacies, medical centres and to lots of individual Nurses and Paramedics.

Our NHS and key workers are putting their lives at risk by going to work at this time of crisis and I want to be able to give something back. I have never done anything like this before and coordinating the project has been slightly stressful but enjoyable, especially as I am trying to write my final essay at the same time. It took a few days to streamline the process, but I think we’ve got the hang of it now. I am really proud to be part of this amazing team that is making a real difference for our key workers by providing Personal Protective Equipment.