Caring William, 13, uses holiday money to help make PPE

A young carer from Scarborough has made hundreds of face shields with a 3D printer he bought using holiday money.

William Stainton, 13, pictured, has made 670 face shields and more than 900 ear savers, to protect people’s ears while wearing face masks, for nursing homes across Scarborough and Bridlington as well as for chemists in Ayton and South Cliff.

The endeavour was William’s idea after dad Kevin

Stainton, 57, suggested they find something to keep themselves entertained during lockdown.

William is a young carer for Kevin, who has coronary heart disease and stage four chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

When Kevin began shielding in March, William began researching how other countries were dealing with the pandemic.

Kevin said: “He went up to his room and began researching on his computer and came down an hour later. He’d been reading about a company in Italy who’s been making valves for ventilators – he said he thought a similar thing might be useful for the UK and asked if we could get a 3D printer.

“We had some holiday money put aside, so William suggested we used that to get one. I did a bit of research and managed to find one.”

William discovered the UK didn’t need ventilator parts in the same way as Italy.

After hearing of the PPE shortages, he decided to make facial shields instead.

“I’m so proud of him and everything he does.

“I think he’s worried about me getting Covid-19, so he thinks if he can help to protect other people from the virus he can help me.”

William says it’s the nurses who are truly doing an amazing job and he’s just making face shields.

Kevin arranges for the equipment to be picked up.