Volunteers across the country have 3D printed tens of thousands of protective face shields to aid frontline healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients.

Over 39,000 face shields were dispatched by volunteers with access to 3D printing equipment over Easter weekend thanks to money raised by online crowdfunding campaign 3D Crowd UK.

The campaign asks those with resources to 3D print protective equipment to lend their support, paid for by donations from members of the public.

The crowdfunded project has raised more than £100,000 and received more than 1500 requests for at least 500,000 face shields, since launching in March.

More than 30 frontline NHS staff have died during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK amid criticism from the government over not providing adequate supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Toby is staying up overnight and giving up his Easter break to print the face shields at his home in Surrey (
Image:
Supplied)

On Saturday, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was ‘sorry if people think there have been PPE failings’.

Although 3D Crowd UK have fundraised £103,700 through their GoFundMe page to support their efforts, it is not enough to keep up to the increasing demand.

Gen Ashley, one of the leaders of  3D Crowd UK, said: “The orders we’ve received from health and social care organisations demonstrate just how critical the shortage of protective equipment is for frontline workers in the UK.

“We are hoping to produce more because we have already seen that the demand is greater than what we were aiming to do, and the crowdfunding needs to continue to get the material we need.”

Ben Sauer, also on the 3DCrowd UK team, said: “We hear first-hand from those on the front line about how desperately they need this equipment and with the help of the volunteers we can really make a difference to people who are treating those worst affected by coronavirus.”

The shields have been gratefully received by NHS workers, who have been sharing their support for the campaign on social media.

Helen Kilminster, a pharmacist from Worcestershire tweeted that when she received a call from 3DCrowdUK telling her that 125 shields have been dispatched to her, she “Actually cried. Happy tears. Relieved tears.”

Over 39,000 face shields were dispatched by volunteers with access to 3D printing equipment over Easter weekend (
Image:
Supplied)

Toby Johnson, 12, is one of over 6000 volunteers who have joined 3DCrowdUK. He is staying up overnight and giving up his Easter break to print the face shields at his home in Surrey.

Toby said: “It’s been amazing to work virtually with like-minded people who all share the same goal using modern technology to help the NHS in this current time.”

In Yorkshire, engineers from the University of Sheffield are also working around the clock to print and distribute the protective face shields.

Dr Pete Mylon, the project leader from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, said: “Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers across the country are in need of PPE. Many staff are anxious about not having the right equipment and potentially exposing themselves to infection.”

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Dr Sam Pashneh-Tala, who is also involved in the project and an expert in bioengineering from the University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, added: “I knew we could do something so we assembled a team and are doing what we can to help. We will keep doing it until someone tells us to stop.”

It isn’t just members of the public donating money to support the volunteers efforts across the country. The 3rd Holmesfield Scout Group in Dronfield, Sheffield donated acetate sheets to use as the disposable guard in the face shields.

To get the face shields where they are needed, the shields are being picked up from the 3DCrowdUK volunteers around the country by delivery service DPD, free of charge.

When this isn’t possible, volunteers step in. Ben Colman, a commercial pilot, and his father, Alan, spent their Easter weekend flying to Northern Ireland delivering over 200 face shields to healthcare workers in Belfast.

If you would like to support the 3DCrowdUK campaign, you can donate here

If you would like to volunteer or request face shields, you can here.