By Isle of Wight Observer
Almost 40 residents in care homes and specialist housing, operated by Southern Housing Group, have benefitted from the kindness of one of the Isle of Wight’s young entrepreneurs.
Islander Stephen Lee, a 22-year old student from Shanklin, has stepped up to distribute hundreds of special face shields to the Island’s frontline workers.
After hearing about the shortage of PPE throughout the social care sector, Stephen began making face shields for the island’s care homes, nurses and other key workers using his own 3D printer. Demand has been so high that he is appealing for other people with 3D printers to join his efforts.
Emma Bound, Southern 360 Care and Support Registered Manager at Southern Housing Group said: ‘I saw Stephen’s post offering the face shields on a local community Facebook group. Although we normally have no problems sourcing PPE equipment, it is a perfect example as to how we have managed to continuously adapt and remain innovative, especially during a pandemic.’
‘We are extremely grateful for Stephen’s kindness which has been a great addition to our supply chain. By working together as a community, we will be able to continue to protect the island’s most vulnerable
and at-risk residents.’
Stephen added: ‘I’m in a high-risk group so I moved back in with my family. While away from university, I wanted to use my time to help others who need it.’
As one of the island’s leading providers of residential and home-based care, Southern Housing Group has set up a telephone service to support its vulnerable residents through this challenging time. The service has been making around 320 welfare calls a day across the Group’s nine specialist sheltered housing schemes on the island.
The housing association has also recruited an army of volunteers, who are now distributing over 100 boxes of essential supplies to vulnerable people on the island.
For more information on how Southern Housing Group is working to help residents and staff during this difficult time, please visit https://www.shgroup.org.uk/coronavirus.
Pictured: Rob Love – Learning Disability Worker
