UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 03 APRIL 2020
Birmingham City University has donated over 1,000 items of protective equipment to frontline staff supporting the battle against Coronavirus.
Staff across the University’s Arts, Design and Media Faculty collated hundreds of aprons, protective goggles and face visors to donate to Birmingham City Council’s appeal for equipment, to be used by key workers delivering essential services across the city.
The staff scoured the University’s technical work areas across its School of Jewellery, School of Art and Parkside Building to uncover more than 1,000 pieces of equipment, which could support the city’s collective efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The technical equipment is ordinarily used by staff and students to make an array of jewellery, sculptures and design products but will now be made available to care providers, social workers and community volunteers.
Items donated included:
- Hundreds of aprons
- A collection of protective face shield visors - some brand new and unboxed
- Several boxes of protective goggles
- Hundreds of face masks
- More than 30 boxes of gloves
Gabe Stewart, Head of Technical Services at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Media helped coordinate the response.
He said: “We were made aware of Birmingham City Council’s appeal for donations and immediately the team pulled together very quickly to see what we could offer.
“This equipment is normally used across our workshops but we are all delighted to have been able to make a contribution to efforts not just going on here, but right across the globe, to fight against this virus.
“We hope that our donations can make a difference to those delivering essential services during the ongoing crisis. Right across the University we continue to look at ways that we can support.”
The University is now investigating how it can make its facilities and resources available for use to produce more products and materials that can be used in ongoing efforts to protect key workers during the battle against Coronavirus..
Individuals and businesses with protective equipment can contribute to Birmingham City Council’s appeal here.