A number of Kent groups have sprung up, using the latest technology to craft face shields during the coronavirus-induced PPE shortage.

The increasing demand for face shields has seen the county's residents spring to action, using 3D printers to make the safety equipment.

Schools and teachers have been taking part in the effort, with Ashford School praising its head of Design and Technology, Adrian Barnett.

By April 1, he had successfully printed and delivered over 30 face shields to the NHS frontline.

Mr Barnett was approached by a pupil's parent to create the masks.

His design mimics that of the original shields and provided a replenishment of stock that would otherwise have taken over 10 days to arrive.

The parent sent an email to head teacher Michael Hall, saying: "You should know that thanks to Adrian, Ashford School’s printed masks and shields are now deployed in four NHS GP practices and frontline HOT clinics for nurses and doctors to use in response to Covid-19. Excellent – every little helps."

Another school, Sutton Valence near Maidstone, was contacted by a Sevenoaks doctor requesting help acquiring personal protective equipment.

By March 27, the staff there had produced enough safety gear for five GPs to be supplied.

KMTV went to see the Sutton Valence team at work on the face shields

Likewise, the Design and Technology department at King's Rochester has been making visors since April 3, and have been supplying nearby hospitals, GPs, care homes and hospices.

Initially, department head Josh Johnson and teacher Bradley Rivers struggled to source supplies but help came from High Street art and craft shop, ArtyCat, which has been providing them with all the materials required.

They are using their own design, and the equipment is washable and reusable.

A spokesman for the Medway school said: "King's Rochester is committed to supporting the NHS and local efforts against the coronoavirus and alongside the visor production has offered use of both boarding houses to the local NHS trust, the houses are on reserve should they be required.

"Many of our teachers and support staff have signed up to the NHS volunteer scheme and are busy transporting medical supplies across Kent as well as providing transportation to and from hospital appointments for local elderly and vulnerable people, using the school mini buses.

The 3D-printing facilities at Ramsgate's Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School have also been pushed to their limits recently.

Its DT department head, Tom Brewin of Broadstairs, is one of three departmental staff who instigated the idea four weeks ago.

By April 21, the 39-year-old has helped make a total of 14,577 visors in just under a month - but he hopes 25,000 visors will be made by the end of this week to distribute across the country.

Members of the Ramsgate Fire Service have also been helping out there, making 500 shields a day.

It started with just three DT teachers working on them, producing around 85 visitors a day, but now around 60 people from across the community have lent a hand, including the school's headteacher.

Mr Brewin, who has worked at the school for 15 years, said: "It's just evolved and we can't say no."

On the weekend he drove to Devon and Cornwall in a van filled with 800 visors, distributing them to prisons and care homes.

He added: "This helped to focus our minds on doing something productive. We hope we have had a big impact in the community."

Thanet councillor Trevor Roper (Green Party leader), who applauded their work, says: "This has absolutely taken off."

In Canterbury, Barton Court Grammar School has also been a hive of activity as the DT department there manufactured 300 masks in a week.

The department's head, Sonya Cottrell, has been joined by Cam Morris, Kristina Parker and Becky Metcalf to make the protective gear.

Mrs Cottrell said "We are only too delighted to be able to help in this way providing some of the PPE that is so desperately needed by those in front line services who are doing such an amazing job and working tirelessly for others."

Their creations have been sent out to groups including medical practices, prison workers, and the Kent & Canterbury Dialysis Unit.

Another Canterbury DT teacher is supporting the effort, with James Brady from Simon Langton School for Girls also chipping in.

He's part of a team that have so far produced 400 facemasks over the course of a week.

Their work has already been distributed to eight GP surgeries, five hospital departments across two hospitals, two NHS physiotherapists, and community healthcare workers as well as many other places that need them.

The protective equipment has been distributed to eight Kent regions, with more expected to be produced and sent in the coming weeks.

However it's not just schools that are getting stuck into the campaign to make face shields.

Orchestrated by Gravesend machinist Luke Granger, a Facebook community has been set up to connect hobbyists with resources, designs and distribution routes.

Dartford 3d Shields' 66 members have already donated more than 150 visors to 15 different groups, ranging from GP surgeries, hospitals and radiology departments to care homes and social workers.

Mr Granger, who normally works as a wedding photographer, now plans to supply the 70p visors to bus drivers following requests from across the county and London.

He said: "It is actually quite easy to make. I have three printers set up and have ordered three more."

Once these are no longer required, he says they will be donated to local schools.

One issue the group has come up against is the difficulty in finding materials.

So far he has pledged £2,000 of his own money but has now set up a fundraiser.

Mr Granger said: "This will make another 500+ shields for surgeries, chemists, hospitals and caring teams who desperately need them to stay protected whilst fighting against Covid-19.

"If you are in a position to donate please give whatever you can and know that there are many people who will benefit from your generosity.

"Each shield costs around 70p but brings safety and peace of mind to the frontline workers and their families, so even small donations go a long way."

Another fundraiser has been established by Keith Perry of Ramsgate, who has made 450 face shields since last Thursday with the help of Broadstairs' Chris and Catherine Hoenes.

Using a Swedish design which takes an hour to make, their printers are working non-stop to meet the high demand.

They too have faced difficulty sourcing materials, but say the fundraiser is already massively boosting their output.

Chris and Catherine, who joined Keith's cause after making a few for friends and family who needed them, have already been dispatching dozens of visors.

Catherine said: "To date £1,800 has been raised and we would like to thank everyone personally for all your donations.

"So far since last Thursday the team and myself have made and delivered approximately 450 safety visors in and around the Thanet area. Some have been posted to other areas of Kent.

"Thank you so very much for making it happen, If you still need safety visors please get in touch and we will help as best we can."

Shields have already been sent to hospital staff, care homes, care workers, occupational therapists, pharmacists and more.

Catherine told KentOnline they'll be making visors every day until the worst of the pandemic is over.

She said that anyone who needs a visor can message her on 07714 446554.

Two brothers have also started making face shields, with their mum - a hospital worker - setting up a fundraiser to support them.

On the GoFundMe page, 14-year-old Antoni Jaworska said: "A few days ago I came across an article on KentOnline of a dad from Ramsgate who has a 3D printer and has been printing these face shields for his local hospital and he talked about how multiple other hospitals are of a great need of this protective equipment.

"After reading this I decided to take part in this movement and I too started to print these face shields. My mum is a nurse and a midwife at the William Harvey therefore I understand how importance protective equipment is for the front line workers.

"I am currently working on project for the labour ward which has requested at least 100 shields for their midwives and I have more requests waiting."

He and brother Sebastian have even bought a second printer to make the visors, which cost them about 40p each.

After the pandemic, the pair will donate the new printer to a nearby grammar school and every penny of the fundraising not spent will go towards their scout group.

So far, more than £650 has been donated in support of their work - more than 300% of their initial target.

Ben Rutherford from Dover has just started making them, with his first 35 masks ready to be sent off tomorrow to the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Herne Bay.

He is asking for donations of material, or money to buy some, through a Facebook donation page.

Meanwhile, learning disability support charity East Kent Mencap has appealed for additional PPE.

Describing its supply of or face masks, aprons and plastic visors as "worryingly low", chief executive Jason Gerlack said: "We have welfare colleagues struggling to care for vulnerable people who are themselves being placed at serious risk.

"We urgently need PPE to protect them but have been told we may have to wait weeks for the next delivery."

To offer your help, call 01843 22 44 82 [Ext. 570] or email funds@eastkentmencap.co.uk

Alternatively you can donate towards the organisation's efforts during the Covid-19 outbreak through this fundraiser.

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