Mrs Gore saw an appeal on Facebook for volunteers with sewing skills from a local company, Birdhouse Creations who were responding to the urgent need for scrubs for healthcare workers in Berkshire hospitals and care homes. Soon she was putting her sewing skills to very good use to meet the urgent need for PPE during the height of the crisis – manufacturing eight sets of scrubs a week.

Mrs Gore said,

I really enjoyed getting involved with Birdhouse Creations and this great initiative, and it gave me a definite purpose whilst I wasn’t working at Downe House. It has re-ignited my love of sewing and I am planning to continue with making children’s aprons and Christmas-themed face coverings to raise money for charity over the next few months.

Director of Operations, Mrs Philippa Toogood said,

We are very proud that Mrs Gore got involved with this great project over the furlough period to make much needed scrubs and masks for NHS workers. It is no surprise at all that she has shown amazing community spirit in a period of such uncertainty for everyone and definitely put her skills to good use for a very worthwhile cause.