Graffham curtain maker among volunteers stitching scrubs for the NHS: “There’s a huge shortage and a huge demand”

A Graffham curtain maker is among a group of more than 30 volunteers stitching much-needed scrubs for NHS workers.
Jo Martin with a complete pair of trousersJo Martin with a complete pair of trousers
Jo Martin with a complete pair of trousers

Jo Martin said there was ‘a huge shortage and a huge demand’ for scrubs for frontline health workers at doctors’ surgeries and hospitals locally.

She has joined a team of professional seamstresses from Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire who are volunteering their time to make the scrubs to order.

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Jo, from Graffham, who runs Josephine Ellen Interiors from her workshop and studio showroom just outside of Petworth, said last week that they had received more than 200 orders already from places including Haslemere Hospital.

Jo Martin stitching scrubsJo Martin stitching scrubs
Jo Martin stitching scrubs

“They are contacting us, rather than us contacting them,” she said.

Jo launched a fundraising page for the project in order to fund the purchase of material for the scrubs.

It costs about £5 for enough fabric to make one set of scrubs, she said, with some materials proving cheaper than others. “It’s just what we can get our hands on,” she said.

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More than £3,500 was raised in the first three days and the total currently stands at more than £9,000.

Jess Howard busy making scrubsJess Howard busy making scrubs
Jess Howard busy making scrubs

Jo said: “It’s amazing, the amount of support.”

The business owner, who usually specialises in curtains, blinds and upholstery, said she was pleased to be able to offer her skills to help others.

“Obviously it’s a quieter time for me now,” she said. “I saw so many people who are helping out, and I felt like I wanted to help too.

“As soon as I saw there was a shortage of scrubs, it took me just two days to find someone in the area who was trying to help out.”

Maureen Almond stitching awayMaureen Almond stitching away
Maureen Almond stitching away
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She said she had also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other seamstresses in the area.

Among the other volunteers helping out are Maureen Almond, a ballet teacher and tutu maker; Jess Howard, a forest school leader and nursery practitioner who was formerly a costume maker and dresser for the West End; and Coleen Smart, a curtain maker and honey maker from Guildford.

Sets of the home-made scrubs have already been gratefully received by staff at Petworth Surgery, who took to social media to say: “Thanks to Jo and her amazing team we have received some desperately needed scrubs!

“These amazing ladies have volunteered to make scrubs for the NHS.

Coleen Smart sewing the scrubsColeen Smart sewing the scrubs
Coleen Smart sewing the scrubs
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“They have helped numerous hospitals (including St Richard’s in Chichester), surgeries and the MacMillan nurses all-around Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.”

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