Volunteers sewing scrubs for key workers given boost from Solent LEP after funding plea

Team Scrubbers, coordinated by Gosport resident Lin Gell, has been flooded with requests from desperate hospitals, GP surgeries and care agencies.

The group of 130 volunteers has already sewn nearly 1,000 sets of scrubs for organisations like Queen Alexandra Hospital and Rowans Hospice.

Now after being covered in The News, the group is being supported by Solent LEP.

The business body is providing funding for material that will be made into 500 scrubs for Portsmouth and Southampton-based NHS and medical staff.

Lin said: ‘The work we are doing has suddenly taken off, we’ve had so many requests and have lots of fantastic volunteers, but it’s been hard to keep up with the demand without the money to buy more material.

‘We are all hugely thankful for the funding from Solent LEP and are delighted that they have even arranged for delivery of the materials to us. We can’t wait to keep on supporting the heroes in our community, who are taking care of patients at this time.’

The partnership was struck up following a plea in The News for more funding.

Anne-Marie Mountifield, chief executive at the Solent LEP said: ‘One of the LEP's core ideals is around being Together Stronger, and I was struck by this when I read the story about Team Scrubbers in The News.

‘I was overwhelmed by the true community spirit that they are showing in supporting health workers in this way.’

Mark Waldron, editor of The News, said: ‘While in the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic The News has been focussing its efforts on promoting the fantastic efforts of those who are doing what they can for their communities.

‘What Lin had started off was such a lovely story to share and I was delighted that her call for help was picked up by the Solent LEP. We talk about being stronger together - and this really shows that in action.’

For more information visit the Facebook group Team Scrubbers Serving Southampton/Portsmouth areas with Scrubs.

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