Ebbsfleet academy launches fundraising campaign

Ebbsfleet Academy has launched a fundraising campaign to help support the school’s production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is being delivered daily to frontline key workers.

The secondary school, which has been making PPE visors, scrubs, scrub wash bags, face masks and headbands, is hoping to raise £2,000 to help with their production.

Since the school was closed on March 20, a small group of teachers have been working to respond to the urgent demand for PPE for frontline staff.

Head Teacher Ms Gurjit Kaur Shergill told the school’s website: “I’m so proud of all my staff, who have risen to the challenge in these unprecedented times and have responded to the needs of the community.

“I think everybody knows someone who is currently working on the frontline, continuing to provide above-and-beyond care no matter what within our community.

“It’s fantastic to think that a small gesture on our part can make a difference to people’s lives.

“It important for everyone to stay safe, we know that one of the key things that helps people to feel safe is contact.  Within our Ebbsfleet community I want to thank students, our families and staff for ensuring that we stay connected as a community.”

So far, the school has provided equipment to Darent Valley Hospital, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Medway Maritime Hospital, and Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Jon Kelly, a design and technology teacher at the academy was prompted to take action when an academy supplier, Kitronik, shared a PPE visor design.

Mr Kelly said: “I was confident that with a small amount of help we would be able to manufacture the visors in the academy’s design and technology workshop.  We already had the necessary materials in stock and the laser equipment needed to start production immediately.”