Army Veteran Sets Up Project To Make Scrub Uniforms For Key Workers

An Army veteran has set up a project making scrub uniforms for key workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Angie Dale, founder of Scrub Hub, has helped make hundreds of the items for NHS workers and care home assistants.

The project, which was set up with help from ABF The Soldiers' Charity, is being run at a community hall in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

"My father-in-law is in a nursing home. I want to make sure those key, key workers are actually safe and protected,"  Ms Dale told Forces News.

"Last week, we sent out over 200 sets of scrubs.

“They went to York, Harrogate, Central HQ, James Cook [hospital], as well as various different care homes, doctors surgeries, healthcare workers, mental health teams.”

Volunteers, many of whom have been furloughed, are making a range of clothing, including headbands and face masks, in a variety of sizes from small to XXL.

All items have to be checked thoroughly to meet NHS standards.

The quality control involves making sure the fabric has the right pattern and checking it can be washed at 60 degrees Celsius, several times without losing quality.

The clothing is then taken for delivery by ABF The Soldiers' Charity.

“I go out and deliver it in the soldier charity van in the local community and it stretches from Darlington over to Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, Bedale, Layburn," said liaison officer Jim Duffy who is helping with the deliveries.

“This last week has actually grown bigger and bigger.

"We usually open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday but last week, we was in every day.”

Over the next few weeks, the volunteers will be preparing to make washable face masks as they are expected to be part of the measures included in the easing of lockdown.