Graduate teacher sends 2,500 visors to the NHS

UWTSD Graphic Design graduate Kate Thomas has answered the urgent call to provide personal protection equipment to NHS staff fighting Covid-19 on the frontline.

Kate Thomas studied for her degree at UWTSD, staying on to complete a PGCE in Art and Design. Since graduating in 2004, she has been working at Dwr y Felin Comprehensive School in Neath, as a Design & Technology/Graphics teacher.

Like so many other schools, Dwr y Felin has been closed and is only operating as a childcare facility for key workers and vulnerable children. Kate was aware of the well documented shortages of PPE amongst NHS and key workers on the frontline.  She immediately started investigating how the school could help to alleviate these shortages.

With the support of Head teacher Penny Peet, Kate and her colleagues contributed their own money to buy the materials needed to make a few hundred visors using laser cutting and 3D printing. The design was created by two companies called Kitronik and Smoke and Mirrors. The first batch was donated to Morriston, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot Hospitals, local GP surgeries and care homes.

As demand grew they gained support from local companies (Viscose Closures Ltd, Millennium Lasers) and a GoFundMe set up by Christian Roche. This supplied the school with enough materials to make thousands of visors. Staff from various departments within the school volunteered their time to help make and distribute them. To date they have made and distributed 2,500 visors, these have gone to NHS hospitals, care homes, medical centres and pharmacies, numerous local charities, South Wales Police, home help carers and funeral directors.

Kate said: “I never thought after assembling our first 45 visors on April 2nd, that this would end up making such a huge difference to front line staff. The response from pupils, parents and the wider community has been very heart warming and a positive experience. We are pleased to be making a small difference in the best way we know how. It just goes to show the power of community coming together. The combination of a degree in Graphic Design and a PGCE has really helped me to think creatively and strategically in both solving problems and in my teaching – this has been very valuable.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Tel: 01792 483695

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Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk