Making for the NHS
A Covid emergency response
The N4 Cutting Hub operated from April 1st, 2020, until the end of March 2021 in response to PPE shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many initiatives during these times, the project arose out of necessity and without forethought—filling gaps where the government fell short—and unleashed a new power within communities.
There was an astonishing display of power and generosity from the people: communities that nobody knew existed came together. Individuals shared their skills, and local businesses generously loaned us professional equipment to increase our efficiency and help us reach our common goal of protecting NHS staff and thus the public.
Day Zero: Myka Baum using their garment-making skills to prepare fabric for making scrubs in the large reception room at St Mellitus Church, where they happened to live.
Much of this story is yet to be written. Suffice to say, for now...
Between April 1st and July 2020 our amazing volunteers have produced nearly 2000 crowdfunded sets of scrubs for Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, East Anglia's Children's Hospice, North London Hospice, St Anne's Nursing Home, Whittington Health NHS Trust and many more.
Volunteered Time. Sewed Masks. Protected Neighbours.
In July the London Scrubs Hub closed but the N4 Cutting Hub carried on, switching to production of triple layered, quality, environmentally friendly masks for the community and carers. Our volunteers have been unstoppable, making over a whopping 6,000!
For Christmas 2020 we sent 21 boxes of chocolates and 126 pizzas to staff at our local NHS hospital, The Whittington, as a tiny morale booster and a sign of our community's appreciation.
Our values were to keep each other safe and to support our community. The Hub was a great source of support for everyone involved in the project.
Time will tell how we will reflect on it in the future.
A few snippets from our super professional website.
© 2023 by EQUALS. Created out of necessity by Myka Baum.
https://n4cuttinghub.wixsite.com/home
