Bethan puts a smile on faces of key workers

A Washington schoolgirl has been using her time off to run a business which is brightening up the days of key workers during the coronavirus crisis.

Bethan Walker, 16, has been running an embroidery business from her home, making more than 1,200 “gingerbread” people dedicated to key workers and NHS staff, such as doctors, nurses and teachers.

Bethan started Personalised by Bethan at the age of 14, in 2017, but has since stepped up her work to bring a smile to the faces of key workers since her GCSE’s have been cancelled.

The Oxclose Community Academy pupil had planned to but her business to one side this summer so she could focus on revision for her exams, but the coronavirus lockdown and forced closure of schools quickly changed that. She said: “My GCSE’s had been cancelled so I wanted to do something positive with my time as I had no revision to do.

“Key workers are risking their lives for people like me so I wanted to say thank you and give something back.” So far, Bethan has been making embroidered ginger-men figures of doctors, nurses, health care assistants, firefighters, police officers, teachers, postmen and binmen, paying tribute to those who continued to work throughout the coronavirus lockdown.

Bethan has also made 15 rainbows for hospitals wards and schools and has been overwhelmed with the reaction she has received.

She added: “The reaction has been amazing! I’ve had so many lovely comments and it’s nice to know they made people smile.”