Sheffield school team does its bit by making visors for care homes

Being able to contribute to the national effort in any way that they can has been the driving force behind The Birley Academy’s latest project.

A school spokesman said: “The current situation that we are all facing has brought to light various organisations that need our support more than ever.

“In an effort to do all that they can, the school has worked tirelessly to provide protective visors to care homes in the local area.

“By the end of last week, they had made a staggering 205 visors that had been distributed to eight different care homes.”

The school has their Design Technology department to thank for the contribution – a team who have been using their two laser cutters simultaneously to create as many visors as they can.

Head of Design Technology, Dan Gillett, spoke highly of his dedicated department: “I am joined each day by different members of the Design and Technology team and have had plenty of offers of help from staff across the school.”

Dan explained the technical aspects behind the production of the visors: “We are using a design from the Kitronic website and we first used all the HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) that we had in school to make the headband element.”

The team did come up against a problem however, when they ran out of the vital martials needed. He added: “I got into contact with the Head of Design Technology at Bradfield School who generously donated their spare PP (polypropelene) – this is what we have continued to use.”

The school’s efforts have been praised by those receiving the PPE equipment. Rachel Stacey, from The Laurel & The Limes Care Home shared their thanks: “These shields are a welcome addition to our PPE and will help protect both staff and residents. There are no words to express our sincere thanks for this, the school making these shields is something none of us, especially the students I’m sure would have ever thought possible.”

The team is continuing to work to fulfil orders for seven other care homes.

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