Sheffield's volunteer sewers appeal for help and donations as they rush to make scrubs for NHS staff treating coronavirus

More than 80 volunteers in the city have answered a call to put their sewing machines to use as over 500 orders have flooded in from hospitals and GP surgeries in South Yorkshire and north Derbyshire.

The initiative started last week, when organiser Becky Ashfield was contacted by somebody who was trying to help their local GP surgery.

In just a few days, the group, called ‘Sheffield Scrubs Up’ has had requests for 300 sets of scrubs from local hospitals, including in Barnsley and Rotherham, and 200 from GP surgeries.

And those who have got involved are encouraging others to do so, highlighting the community and friendships that have grown out of the volunteers getting together and keeping busy sewing to help the NHS.

Sarah Featherstone, from Bradway, joined the group when it had just started, and has already made 20 pairs of scrubs and has the material for 25 more cut out and waiting to be sewn together.

The primary school teacher, who is self-isolating due to a condition which compromises her immune system, says that the voluntary work is a way she can help people on the front line of coronavirus as well as a way to socialise while in lockdown.

“The group has grown really quickly and is full of people of any skill who want to contribute,” Sarah said.

“A lot of us are self isolating and this is a way we can get involved and be able to help when we are not able to go outside and directly help our neighbours.

“So many NHS staff are being redeployed to work on wards and they need enough scrubs to be able to change every four hours while they are treating patients, so there is huge demand.

“That is why the call went out for people to help make scrubs. I love sewing. I started when I was seven and now I have an industrial sewing machine and I have always made my own clothes. So while this is hard work, it is no chore sitting here and sewing all day.

“Scrubs are quite complicated to sew, but the NHS also need scrub hats and bags, as well as head bands with buttons on for masks to be attached to.

“This means that there is something for people of all skill levels to do. Some of the group are complete beginners while others are more proficient.

“There is the Facebook group where it is organised, and we all communicate through there and help each other out. There is a real community aspect to it.

“In my little group, my friend who goes and picks up the fabric did not know my friend who does all the cutting out. Now they know each other.

“When we go to pick up the bags of fabric we talk to each other through the windows. It’s really nice.

“And when we go and give the scrubs to staff they are always so grateful. I feel like this is something we are doing to thank them, and I enjoy doing it so much. So when they are thanking us, it feels almost like it is the wrong way round.”

The group is urgently in need of more fabric so that they can keep up with the demand for scrubs, which cost between £10 and £12 to make.

The sewers primarily need plain fabric, with no embellishments on it.

Sheffield Scrubs Up organiser Becky Ashfield, has now set up a crowdfunding page to help raise money for more fabric for the group.

Becky said she has put her own business on hold during the crisis and has put up hundreds of pounds of her own money up front to make sure there is fabric available for the initial set of orders.

Much of the fabric so far has been supplied at heavily discounted prices by Annie's fabric shop in Sheffield.

Some volunteers have even been tearing up their duvet covers to make the garments.

"We've got so many people out there ready and willing and they're working away," said Becky.

"We just need to raise money quickly to get the fabric."

She said: "We've only been going a few days. The number of orders has been amazing."

Becky praised Lyndsey Nicholls, of Annie's, who is working hard to supply the volunteers across the city, discounting the fabric as much as she can while staying in business.

"It's amazing what they're doing all over the city," Lyndsey said.

Lyndsey said some GPs had offered to pay for the material for their own orders.

Those who want to get involved in the sewing group can do so by joining the Facebook page Sheffield Scrubs Up.

On there are patterns for making the various items that the NHS needs, as well as advice for people just getting started.

And as well as people to sew the scrubs, people can join as collectors of fabric that has been donated, as well as to do the cutting of the fabric so that it is ready to be sewn.

If you want to donate fabric, it is best to wash it yourself and then to wear gloves to put it into a bag for collection. This means that people who are self-isolating can still collect it.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital said that the fabric that should be used is 50/50 or 60/40 polyester/cotton and ideally green or blue.

It should be able to be washed at 65 degrees and between 145gsm to 160gsm and sets of scrubs should be labelled appropriately with sizes S, M, L, XL.

Donations can be made at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/scrubs-supporters.