Charity starts project to make masks

Charity chief executive Bella Farrell said when they saw the media briefing on Saturday they realised there was going to be a big demand for face coverings.

‘We immediately thought there was an opportunity for our volunteers and the community to come together and make masks,’ she said.

The charity’s shop is shut due to lockdown, but the shop already had a lot of fabric, which can be used for masks. The volunteers are working from home to make them.

They are being made to UK government standards.

Bella Farrell said the only thing they were short of was narrow elastic, but they were hopeful that local providers might be able to help.

‘We are offering the masks for a donation,’ she said.

‘Ideally three for £10. We would rather have a donation than a fixed price, as we want people who might otherwise find the price prohibitive to be able to get a mask.’

Since the charity began promoting the masks more than 100 mask orders have come, half of which are for a single corporate order.

It is proposed that from Wednesday, there will be an honesty box at the Health Connections site at Beau Sejour, where people will be able to pick up a mask between 10am and 2pm and make a donation for it.

It is hoped that local people who sew will come forward to help with the effort.

• Anyone able to help can email kate@healthconnections.gg.