Helping hands in time of crisis
HASLINGDEN High School has manufactured 1,400 safety face visors for frontline NHS and care home staff.
The Design and Technology faculty responded to the national call and staff members began last month making deliveries across the region in the school minibus.
Teachers from all departments - from PE to languages, science to ICT along with the senior leadership team, worked alongside students to create the visors.
Head of department Craig Greenwood said: “We had some materials in school to make 50 and we put out a plea through our website, Facebook and Twitter accounts to get more resources - and Rossendale Plastics and Mabron Plastics both came forward.”
The faculty’s two laser cutters have been going non-stop and once finished, members of the school staff have been distributing visors to hospitals, pharmacies, care homes and medical facilities, responding to appeals for help.
Haslingden High’s production line is continuing and the school is grateful for all monetary donations that have enabled more raw materials to be purchased.
Mr Greenwood said: “Colleagues have been in daily, including Good Friday and Easter Monday, making the face masks and we are spending money that has been donated to buy another 15 sheets from Rossendale Plastics; from five sheets we can make 500 visors.
“It has been a great community effort and we are pleased that we have been able to help. The feedback from hospitals and care workers has been overwhelmingly positive and many have reported feeling safer carrying out their vital role.
“Staff and students have attached hand written personalised compliment slips to each face mask to show our appreciation of the work they are doing to our country safe”.
Good as Gold Childcare in Waterfoot refused to allow lockdown to quell its patriotic spirit in a St George’s Day charity fundraiser.
Kimberley Hartley said: “I set my children the challenge of making their own flag at home. They had to dress up as Saint George, a princess or a dragon, or just wear red and white. I pledged to donate £2 for every photograph received.
My children put in a tremendous effort, which resulted in a £250 donation to The Big Night In. This amount was kindly matched by the Duckworth family.”
CHARITIES have been working together to make sure free food is distributed across Rossendale.
Veterans In Communities, based in Haslingden, provided manpower and the use of the Crew Van to Positive Start, which until lockdown provided a weekly Food Group in Rawtenstall.
VIC operations manager Bob Elliott said: “VIC has been helping Positive Start to deliver food parcels in Haslingden and Helmshore and we have also helped out in Rawtenstall and Bacup.
“Although our centre in Haslingden has had to be closed to visitors, it is manned every day to respond to phone calls.”
Jo Shakeel, a volunteer with Positive Start, said: “It is great to see so many local groups and organisations working together; VIC has been great and Bob has been fantastic. We have seen a dramatic increase in demand, due to self isolation, or financial difficulties and we are expecting more and more each week.”
She said surplus food had also been redistributed to Trinity Baptist Church, in Bacup, and the RAFT Foundation and other groups.
Kind-hearted sisters Ebonae-Rose and Summer Meeks who have been sending guardian angels to key workers have been recognised with a prestigious award.
The Crawshawbooth girls have made more than 2,000 spiritual keepsakes to front line workers along with reassuring goodwill messages - as we reported earlier this month.
Ebonae-Rose, seven, and Summer, five, have received an Everyday Hero certificate from BBC North West Tonight.
The girls’ mum Tracey thanked Alison Gilday for nominating them, adding: “We are proud beyond belief and so overwhelmed. Thank you so so much.”
To donate to a gofundmepage to help cover their production costs or to find out more, visit the Little Angels Facebook page.
Four-year-old Harry Dawson beat his drums in appreciation of the NHS outside his home on Brockclough Road, Whitewell Bottom.
His father John said: “He enjoyed making his tribute and he will be out next Thursday at 8 o’clock.”
Lara Watts also sent us a photo of her daughters Sienna, four, and Amara, one, showing their support and clapping for our carers, in Rawtenstall.
Weekly (socially-distanced) street parties on Bacup’s Beech Close have brought neighbours together.
Organiser Andrea Gledhill said: “I didn’t think it would be as well received as it has been - I filled up when I came outside on the first game to see all the neighbours sat with their chairs and tables out.”
Bingo prizes have been illustrative of the times - four toilet rolls, six duck eggs, and a bottle of wine! There were also some handmade gifts and prizes.
Charity collections were also taken and donations made online.
The first bingo game raised £75.70 for the NHS justgiving page. A second games saw a donation of £102 made to Captain Tom’s NHS fundraising justgiving page.
The children at Whitworth’s Tonacliffe Primary School have painted and written cards to local care homes and the hospice with the support of their teachers.