Mum Victoria making face shields for health workers

Though a full time mummy, Victoria never stops and has always worked as well as volunteered at youth clubs and charity functions.

She started working for Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council in 1999 and has had a wide variety of roles across the borough.

Now she is spending her lockdown making face shields for staff at local care homes and Craigavon Hospital.

Victoria is renowned for her natural and talented way with children but sadly, when the Covid-19 pandemic began and she wasn’t able to carry out her job as a crèche assistant .

But it didn’t take her long to find something truly worthwhile to keep her mind and hands active.

When Victoria saw a local group on Facebook asking for help to make disposable face shields for health care workers, she wanted to help out – and has already made around 500 of them.

Organised by a group called ‘NHS Face Shields Lurgan’, they provide the volunteers with all the equipment needed including elastic, acetate and foam as well as a video showing them how to do it.

What started off as a very small operation has turned into a huge production line, with people cutting materials, businesses making donations, fundraising efforts and people like Victoria putting the shields together. In total, 40,000 protective masks have been made and distributed to date.

“I have always been busy with my work over the years and enjoy working in different roles and in different facilities,” said Victoria who works in a number of leisure centres, town halls and community centres as well as Lough Neagh Discovery Centre.

“My days are always well filled, I am always busy and love dealing with members of the public, so when everything closed due to Coronavirus, it felt very strange.

“When I saw this group and the amazing work they were doing I wanted to get involved. There are barrels of supplies where I pick up the equipment I need and then I get to work at home. When I have 100 put together they get picked up and delivered to care home workers and NHS staff. I really enjoy making the face shields and knowing that they are helping our community.

“It has turned into an incredible process and I am so proud to be part of it but will also be glad to get back to my normal day jobs with the council when the time comes!”

Victoria urges anyone who wants to volunteer to check out NHS Face Shields Lurgan on Facebook for more information or to donate send money as friends and family via Pay Pal to [email protected]

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