A campaign has launched calling for businesses, sole traders and self-employed people across the UK who may have vital supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procured before the COVID-19 pandemic, that can be donated to help charities and healthcare workers who need it the most.
Masks for Heroes launched last week to connect businesses with supplies of PPE to donate – from masks, gloves, goggles and respirators – with vital services facing a shortage. The campaign has identified untapped resources amongst UK businesses who use PPE for their own business operations and wouldn’t have thought that, however small, it could help potentially save lives.
Since the campaign launched, requests for PPE have already been received from up and down the country from a range of services, including NHS surgeries, private care facilities and charities, while pledges have been made from businesses such as metal workers and electricians.
There is, however, huge potential for further donations, and Masks for Heroes is appealing to industries from agriculture, construction, electricians, plumbers and mechanics through to gardeners, beauty therapists and food service to donate surplus PPE to people who need it the most.
Karl Melkerts and James Hogg, co-founders of Masks for Heroes, add; “We are appealing to any businesses who would normally use PPE to check if they have any spare items they’d be willing to donate if required. No matter how small a supply you have, it could make an important difference to a key worker, charity or healthcare facility local to you. Please come forward and help us to build a database of unused PPE so that we can help donate it to the people that need it most in the UK and potentially save lives.”
Anthony Nelson, Managing Director at Northern Structures, a structural steelwork company based in the North East, is one of the first businesses to pledge. He explains; “When the guys got in touch with me to see if I was able to help, I thought it was a great idea. I had some high-quality face fitted rubber masks with detachable filters.
“In this testing time and whilst many are not working, I believe any person or firm who can help should dig deep and offer whatever PPE they have available. There is a cost attached to this, of course, but the generosity may well save lives, which to me is paramount.”
The Masks For Heroes mission is to have the information ready in the event that our health workers run low on key infection prevention supplies. It does not require any items to be sent, only for those who have surplus equipment to add what they have to the online form which will build the database. Should that need arise, the Masks for Heroes team will connect pledgers with local recipients.
Do Your Bit and Pledge Your Kit to Masks for Heroes at www.masksforheroes.org.uk.
