A CYCLIST has been delivering scrub bags to NHS staff as part of his daily bike ride exercise.
Will Wilkins came across a group called Sew for Southampton on social media, where he noticed that two members of staff from Southampton General Hospital were asking for scrub bags for health workers to put their uniforms into after shifts.
At least 200 seamstresses across the city have joined the group, with many creating the bags, while cyclists - such as Will - have been delivering them to nurses and doctors.
It forms part of the Daily Echo's #ThereWithYou campaign which pledges to shine a light on unsung heroes across the community.
The 53-year-old from Sholing has played a part in delivering the 1,300 scrub bags given to staff on wards across the hospital, such as cancer care, maternity, COVID-19 wards, and radiology.
He said: "This just looked like a great way to support the people doing all the great sewing work by providing pollution-free deliveries and collections whilst getting my daily exercise. It’s a win win solution and made me feel I was doing a little bit to help everyone."
Headbands with buttons and ear savers - which make face masks feel more comfortable - have also been made by residents across Southampton.
Group organiser Emma Joy, who is also a project organiser at the hospital, said: "So the group was set up originally when a need was identified at University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust for scrub bags for staff to put their uniforms in after a shift.
"I set up the Sew for Southampton Facebook group to find people interested in making bags, and liaised with the hospital.
"There have been a lot of people involved - all the people in the group making them, then people kindly getting them to myself and Toni Chilton [clinical nurse specialist] at the hospital.
"Toni and I, with help, have then been taking requests in, bagging items up, and delivering them across the Trust.
"We haven't really been doing it for the publicity, it's to help the staff, and credit really does have to go to all the ladies and gents who've been making bags and getting them to us and the hospital."
To join the group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/216967812900023/.
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