Morecambe artist launches crowdfunding appeal for materials for NHS visors during coronavirus lockdown

An artist from Morecambe is crowdfunding for materials to make visors for the NHS.
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Artist Andrew Morris, 52, whose wife Zoe is a midwife in the Morecambe area, has launched a crowdfunding appeal for plastic materials to make visors for the NHS.

He said: "I've started purchasing the materials and have been looking at all different types of plastic, anything I can gather really, so I can make the visors.

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"I'm just in the process of renovating a shop on Yorkshire Street in Morecambe so I can make the visors there.

Artist Andrew Morris with his laser scanner.Artist Andrew Morris with his laser scanner.
Artist Andrew Morris with his laser scanner.

"My wife is a midwife working in the community and also at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and she does home visits and works on the wards.

"She is very worried about the lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), particularly the level of protection for going into people's homes, as you don't know whether the home is contaminated, or the people are infected or infecting others.

"It is a concern. She hears about other midwives that have been infected that she has been in contact with.

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"I want to do something to help out and I'm in a position to do something about it.

"I've got some materials on order, which are a flat piece of acetate, the band that I'm making and assembling and sticking the neoprene pads on the front of the visor.

"I need to cut them out with the laser cutter.

"I only put the call out on Sunday and once I get the materials I can start making them.

"It depends on demand where they go, if Morecambe Bay NHS Trust need them all they will go there, but there are lots of others places, not even in this country that need them."

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Andrew has been an artist and ceramicist in the Morecambe area since 1996.

He was a teacher at the Blackpool and Fylde College but wanted to concentrate on his own pottery and artwork full time so is renovating a shop in Morecambe.

He said: "People are suffering from powerlessness at what they can do and it's not a nice place to be so if you can do something that's good.

"I'm hoping people are feeling positive about donating money and will do so."

If you want to donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-morris-824.