KEMP Hospice’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been boosted thanks to generous donations from the community.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the day hospice in Kidderminster is temporarily closed, meaning staff are not dealing with patients face-to-face.

But once the restrictions are lifted, PPE will be vital to keeping the charity's staff and patients safe.

Karen Coles, care services manager at KEMP, has thanked members of the community that have donated PPE or raised money for the Wyre Forest charity from the sale of face masks.

“We are humbled, as ever, by the support of our community,” said Karen.

“As we return to providing our care service at the hospice, the use of PPE for both staff, volunteers and patients will be extraordinarily important.

“They will help ensure we are keeping everyone as safe as possible.

“Having these PPE items donated means we can utilise more your funds toward the care we provide, which is brilliant."

With stocks of PPE running low across the UK, three teachers from Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer decided to help bolster supplies during the lockdown.

Lauren Kettle, Cella Riley and Rhiannon Bird, who teach design and technology, used the school’s materials to make more than 1,300 visors and masks for healthcare professionals, with 100 going to KEMP.

Headteacher Darren Reynolds said: “We are a community school so doing something like this is a natural transition for us when we are not open as normal.

“We have three wonderful teachers in DT and they had the idea of getting the equipment that we already had and making a batch of 200 masks.

“They then took them to some local providers who said, 'these are fantastic, can you do some more?’

“Between the three of them they have made more than 1,300 masks to date and we are hoping to crack 2,000 as soon as we can.

“It’s amazing and they have done this on top of providing online learning to kids from home.

“What we have done is nothing compared to the sacrifices being made by health workers and care staff across the country who are in the frontline of our response to this terrible virus.

“It is a small token of our gratitude that they are keeping us all safe and well.”

Amongst the other donations include Haybridge High School in Hagley which made and delivered 40 masks to the Wyre Forest hospice.

KEMP has also benefited from the sale of masks with Amanda Bonas, from Callow Hill, generating more than £300 for the hospice.

After being furloughed from her job, Amanda decided to get behind her sewing machine in a bid to raise funds for KEMP.

“One of my friends who is a doctor approached me and said I need masks and I will pay you to make them,” Amanda said.

“I then put a photo on social media of what I was doing and it just escalated from there.

“I have made about 60 this week and have now done 100 in total.

“We have raised about £310 so far and that’s all for KEMP. I will just keep going until this crisis is all over.

“Recently my really good friend, Sandra, passed away and I know that KEMP Hospice did a lot for her so I felt quite passionate about giving something back.”

Anita Ostrowski, from Kidderminster, has also been busy making masks to support the charity.

She said: "Each mask takes about an hour and a half to make and I have been doing it for about a month.

“I have made over 30 so far and have got another order for about the same amount.

“I am making the masks for my friends who are then donating money to the hospice.

“I would estimate at least £200 has been raised so far. I have got 30 more masks to do and people keep asking me.”