MUCH needed protective kit to keep front line health and care staff safe is being made by staff and students at St Edward’s School in Poole.

The project was sparked by a student in Year 13, Will Neville-Jones, who, after learning how to make bands for face visors on his 3D printer at home, reached out to his school’s design and technology department for help completing the job.

Will was allowed to borrow one of the school’s 3D printers, along with the materials he needed for the visor front panels, and completed his first batch of ten face visors from his home.

On April 16 he delivered them to The Laurels and Pine Lodge care home in Oakdale, Poole.

Will said: “I was aware that PPE was in short supply and, having seen in the news that people were using 3D printers to make it, I thought I could give it a try myself. I can’t make hundreds of face visors at home, but I’m really glad I can do something to help – and now that the school is getting behind the idea, we can do a lot more.”

Inspired by his efforts, teachers from the school, which remains open for key worker and children who were vulnerable, are setting up shop in the design and technology department to continue the work, making scrubs bags, ear protectors to prevent skin damage from face masks, and more laser cut visors, all of which will be made available to the local NHS and care homes.

Head of technology at St Edward’s School, Jane Morris, said: “We are all so deeply grateful for those on the front line who are risking their own health to care for others during this Covid-19 crisis, so to be able to do something for them feels really great.

“I am incredibly proud of Will for taking the initiative and spending his Easter break working to do something good for others, and we are so pleased to pick up the baton at school and do what we can as well.”