Businesses in Mansfield and Ashfield – and further afield – have responded positively to an appeal to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to support NHS staff fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Launched by Martin Rigley, managing director of Lindhurst Engineering Ltd in Sutton, and supported by Gary Jordan, chair of the Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Business Group, the #ppe4nhs campaign is seeking donations of unused PPE from local businesses, particularly those in the engineering, manufacturing and construction sectors.

The appeal, highlighted in the News Journal, followed a donation of PPE by Malcolm Hall, of Mansfield’s Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies.

News of the appeal went across the country earlier this week and has attracted support from local businesses as well as some outside Mansfield and Ashfield.

Early donations. as well as from Malcolm Hall, have come from West Notts College, Mansfield; Boneham & Turner, Sutton; Empire Interior Contractors, Kirkby; and Staged AV, Boughton, as well as Aeroclub Models, Arnold; Regency Design, London; and Micro-Mesh Engineering Ltd, Nottingham.

There is a specific need for:
•Face masks FFP 2 or FFP3 rated, the rating is marked on each mask.
•Nitrile gloves
•Visors or goggles
•Disposable aprons or overalls

Martin said: “Having worked in engineering and manufacturing for nearly 40 years, I know there will now be cupboards and storerooms in manufacturing, engineering, construction and science-based businesses, full of brand-new PPE.

“Our NHS desperately needs this PPE and, as a business community, we have a duty to get it to them, if possible, without putting people at risk.”

Any business wanting to make a donation of equipment can email Lindhurst commercial director Simon Hawkins on [email protected] or contact Gary Jordan on [email protected]

Organisers of the appeal are working with councils to set up hubs for collection and delivery.

They added: “Whilst donations of PPE were slow initially they picking up with the increased publicity we are getting. The interest in helping is going nationwide.

“Initially we struggled to find the best route in for donations to make the biggest impact.

“However we feel the most effective route is to supply everything we get to the Regional (County or City) Tactical Command Group (they represent the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, NHS, Social Services, councils in each county and city and are backed up with Military support). They will then donate out through NHS & Social Services channels.

“All donations can be made to the designated hub and a co-ordinator will work with the Tactical Command Group to ensure deliver to the needy.

“We are not in a position to decide priorities and see the Tactical Command Groups as the common sense route for donations.

“Our advice is to continue to seek supply through your normal channels who will have links into The Tactical Command Groups.”

D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, is putting its support behind the PPE4NHS campaign and is asking businesses across the region to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the fight against coronavirus.

Chief executive Sajeeda Rose said: “We fully understand the efforts government are making to ensure PPE is available for all who need it, but we equally recognise the challenge they face in reaching beyond the NHS into other parts of the care system that are vital to shielding our most vulnerable citizens and preventing further strain on the front line by keeping people safe.”

“It may be that there are protective items sitting in storage cupboards that can be put to good use to support our social care workers, care workers and other front-line employees.”

“If businesses are able to offer up this stock in our fight against this virus, please get in touch.”

Businesses interested in donating should visit: www.D2N2LEP.Org/PPE4NHS or email: [email protected].

To make the donation process as quick as possible, emails should include PPE supply details including quantity and postcode, plus a contact name and phone number.