5 minute read
WHERE GIRLS HAVE COMPASSION
WAKEFIELD WHERE GIRLS HAVE COMPASSION
Scrub Hub 2020
The nationwide lockdown of March this year brought unexpected change to the way in which the Wakefield Girls’ High School Textiles Department operated. Workshops buzzing with GCSE and A Level students rushing to complete their coursework for the May deadline suddenly emptied, as both teachers and students turned to their home sewing machines to set up the WGHS Scrub Hub. Mrs Phillips sent out an appeal to all students from Years 7 to 13 looking for volunteers to sew scrubs, scrub bags or headbands to keep the NHS workers at Pinderfields Hospital safe during the Coronavirus pandemic. Combined with an appeal to the general public through social media, the response was overwhelming, with the team expanding from Mrs Maher, Mrs Phillips, Mrs George, and Mrs Critch to over fifteen members consisting of current students, WGHS Alumni, and very generous members of the public. Furthermore, the school community came together and donated over £2000 in just two months, enabling the Scrub Hub to purchase fabric desperately needed to meet the demand for scrubs. While the scrubs form a very critical element to the PPE of the NHS workers, the scrub bags and headbands provide comfort and ease to their daily routine. The scrub bags were created from materials that could withstand a hot wash, allowing the worker to simply place their scrubs in the bag and then throw the entire bag into the washing machine at the end of the day. The headbands were embellished with two buttons at either side so that face masks could be hooked around these, rather than the elastic rubbing and putting pressure on the back of the ears throughout the long and tiring shifts at the hospital. Hollie from Year 10, Emilia from Year 7 and myself decided to get involved with the Scrub Hub and sew scrub bags. Aminta from Year 12 and Charlotte rose to the challenge of sewing headbands, sending a combined total of over sixty to Pinderfields.
I decided to get involved in this project because the cancellation of my A Level exams, combined with the fact I had finished all of my subject courses meant I had unusual amounts of spare time on my hands, and I thought the best way to fill it was by doing what I could to contribute to the fight against Covid-19. I learnt to sew with the (very) patient guidance of the textiles teachers at WGHS, progressing from breaking needles and jamming sewing machines to taking Textiles GCSE in just under a year, so I thought it was only fair to put my skills towards a good cause. I was able to send off thirty two scrub bags to the NHS workers at the hospital due to the kind donations of old pillowcases and bed sheets from my neighbours.
With guidance from Volunteer Manager Gwen Shackleton at Pinderfield Hospital, Mrs Maher downloaded and converted a pattern for producing scrubs, ensuring those made were identical to the ones currently worn by NHS workers. The purpose of scrubs is to provide a base layer next to the skin, under the disposable gown. The fabric was prewashed and dried before cutting to allow for shrinkage. The Scrub Hub produced over one hundred and fifty sets of scrubs in many different colours, including holly green, dark purple and French navy. The demand for scrubs came from not only Pinderfields Hospital, with sets being donated to GP surgeries, opticians, dentists, care homes, and STEPS Rehabilitation. The products of WGHS Scrub Hub became so in demand, an email was set up specifically for PPE requests.
Ruby Allen - Year 13
Charities News
As always, the Wakefield Girls’ High School Charities Committee were keen to start the new academic year with a bang and so organised many events to raise money and awareness for the charities that are important to them. The autumn term was filled with cake sales, teacher’s eating competitions, collecting gifts to give to vulnerable and underprivileged children in the area at Christmas time, collection for the Food bank and the annual Christmas Fayre. The events are organised by small groups of pupils and the Charity Student Leaders. A new campaign for this year was to collect toys and toiletries etc to give to children in our local area whose families may not be able to afford gifts for them etc. This was a hugely successful campaign - we gave ninety eight filled shoeboxes (filled with toys, colouring items, toiletries, sweets etc) to Tiny Hands Baby bank. And the team of Year 11 pupils who were organising the campaign raised over £100 to buy new toys to give to Wakefield Social Services to hand out to families.
The lockdown didn’t stop our pupils from fundraising either - Year 9 took part in a sponsored 5km run for Darjeeling
Children’s Trust and many individual pupils took part in sponsored events to raise money for charities of their choice. On the very last day of term, Mrs Tingle put together a huge Kahoot quiz for pupils and staff to take part in and raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust - a charity that would normally benefit from our annual Summer Charity Fayre. It was a huge success and a great way to finish the term.
Many pupils and staff also used the lockdown opportunity to make visors, scrubs, scrub bags and mask bands for the staff at Pinderfields Hospital and care providers in the local area showing great community spirit.
