RINGWOOD Coronavirus Assistance has delivered PPE equipment made by the community and local businesses to local care homes and hospitals.

Bournemouth University student Ben Butler, persuaded Poole-based manufacturer, AGI, where he is doing a placement, to put its 3D printers to good use and make visors for frontline workers, with the elastic for the visors being provided by Ringwood Fabrics. And, local sewing bees, co-ordinated by Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE), have been making reusable masks and washable kit bags.

More than 1000 kit bags have been made and provided to NHS and other frontline staff at Southampton Hospital, Bournemouth Hospital, Salisbury Hospital, the Ringwood ambulance service and local care homes. The reusable masks are not suitable for NHS frontline staff and so they are issued to RCA volunteers and local care homes.

AGI has made more than 250 visors, of which 100 have been delivered to local care homes by RCA including Oak Mount and Whitegates.

John Haywood, founder and director of RCA and a Ringwood Town councillor, said: “This is yet another great example of the community and local businesses coming together to help those on the frontline in these very challenging times.

“RCA has been delivering this PPE equipment to the various care homes and they have been so well received. The staff were delighted and very grateful for the effort made by everyone involved to help keep them safe.”

AGI managing director David Hyde said “It is great to be part of Ringwood Coronavirus Assistance in providing support to local care homes. The work that Ben and the team have undertaken over the last few weeks has been incredibly rewarding and provides us with a small way in which we can give something back to the community.”

To volunteer to make masks and kit bags please contact Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE) at ringwoodraceagainsttime@gmail.com.

To volunteer for RCA please go to the websiteringwood-coronavirus.org.uk. For those in need of assistance call 01425 542031.