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News: 20,000 Essential items have been made for keyworkers by Nottingham’s For the Love of Scrubs volunteer group

Please note: This news story may contain information that is no longer current or up to date.

The Nottingham chapter of the national For the Love of Scrubs’ movement began nine weeks ago. 

As you may know, it was kick-started by three women including one of our Marketing team, Amy Gathercole. Just nine weeks later, the group has 1700+ members, have raised £5,500 and donated over 20,000 items to the NHS, frontline and key workers. This includes face-coverings too now.

Following the initial article, many colleagues contacted Amy to join in with the movement, offering to drive, sew and also co-ordinate. Some of our students have even got involved and sewn scrub bags. 

As the Government has now made it mandatory for everyone to wear a face-covering on public transport and in other settings, the FTLOS group is now working to donate these too. In the past two weeks, hundreds have been donated to Nottingham College staff, who have individually made requests. 

The community group has joined up with local CIC, Tiger Enterprises, to offer the project longevity and a central hub. Tiger CIC usually reside with the community work downstairs at 38 Carrington Street, but the partners running the Urban Room have kindly lent the venture a bigger and more accessible space, which is currently housing hundreds of items safely and securely. Volunteer drivers and bikers regularly pop in (at a social distance) to collect items and deliver them across Nottinghamshire to those that need them. In the past two weeks, over 900 masks have already been made and donated. 

As a way of funding both the operation and the supplies needed to make more face coverings and other items going forward, an initiative called Buy One, Give One’ was recently launched. This means that for every item purchased, at least one will be given, free of charge, to key workers (including teachers and teaching staff) and community frontline who request them. 

For more information on this and to purchase a non-medical face covering please visit https://​tiger​com​mu​ni​ty​s​tore​.co​.uk

To request a face covering as a key worker please visit http://​tiny​.cc/​M​a​s​k​s​R​e​q​u​e​s​tForm


I’m not sure where the last nine weeks have gone. The achievements of this group are amazing and so lovely. I’ve been completely taken aback by the support we’ve managed to achieve in such a short space of time, from local people and supporters. 

As this project was set up as emergency aid in the time of a global pandemic, being able to offer the project permanent support for as long as it needs it is invaluable and now having the community I co-founded being able to help colleagues, as they return to work to help our students makes it even more rewarding. 

Amy Gathercole — Internal Communications Officer, Nottingham College

Search For the Love of Scrubs Nottingham’ on Facebook if you feel you are able to contribute to the movement. If you can sew, cut fabric, supply fabric or help with distribution, make sure to join the group and support a fantastic new initiative.

Michael Bush, Health and Safety Manager said: 

The college has constantly monitored the guidance from Public Health England during the whole of the COVID 19 crisis and always looks to advise and implement this guidance. This is a wonderful way to help keep staff safe whilst travelling on public transport, where they might not be able to social distance. 

Michael Bush — Health and Safety Manager, Nottingham College
Published on:
  • 15th June 2020 (11:31 AM)
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