Supporting the NHS as a Scrub Hub

• How did Chichester Scrubs come about?

I own Elizabeth Turner Soft Furnishings near Emsworth and like everyone else in non-essential retail we shut down on March 23. I saw the Scrub Hub initiative on The One Show and realised this was something we could do to help – we had equipment, the workroom sitting empty and seamstresses at home with their own machines. I bought the business five years ago from Elizabeth and she agreed to come back out of retirement, as did a seamstress who had worked for her, plus my team of three and me doing the organising. I set up an email address and a fundraising page and it kicked off overnight.

• What response did you receive?

Among the 180 emails from volunteers that had arrived by the following morning, was one from Sally [Chichester College lecturer and Chichester Festival Theatre Stage Manager Sally Garner-Gibbons]. She had a team ready and suggested we join together. We were lucky we found each other so quickly. We have different resources but we’re quite similar in how we get things done – we’re not faffers!

• How many sewers are making scrubs?

We decided early on that we could produce more scrubs, quickly, by working with a core team of volunteer professional seamstresses. We have around 30 now making scrubs. Then we have about 370 volunteers from our Facebook group making hats, masks and bags for the scrubs to go in. We’re in the top ten in the country for production and have made 365 sets of scrubs to date.

• Who are you making scrubs for?

There are a lot of NHS workers who don’t usually wear scrubs who now need them. Medical professionals email us and we make to order. Being on the Hampshire and West Sussex border we get requests from both directions.

• How does distribution work?

We try to keep driving to a minimum so there is lots of coordination involved. Two friends and I do most of the driving, and The Bell Inn in Chichester has been acting as a drop-off point. Other than hospital hub deliveries, orders go out in plastic pouches identified only by a job number. This ensures data protection.

• How is the cost of materials funded?

Through our Go Fund Me page. My clients were incredibly generous, and then Sally shared the details and we received similar generosity. We are thi rd in the UK for fundraising.

• You had the skills and the workroom at your disposal, but was there anything else that motivated you to start Chichester Scrubs?

My mum was a midwife her whole career. I know how hard she worked and the dedication and love with which she and her colleagues did their jobs. This is a way to help the NHS. Until we can go back to making bespoke curtains – which means going into homes to measure up – we are more useful as a Scrub Hub.

For more information visit Chichester Scrubs Group on Facebook, donate to the Go Fund Me or order scrubs by emailing [email protected]

---

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.