Created by a Scrubs/Mask making group, of the same name, from the Huntingdon and Peterborough region

Themes: Scrubs & Masks Making, Celebrating NHS Staff. Social Isolation, PPE, NHS STAFF, Community Spirit Mutual Aid & Support, Charity, Environment & Nature, Key WorkersIsolation, Hope, NHS Rainbows, Pride, Communication

Size W180cm x H251cm

– butterfly legacy –

At the very beginning of the pandemic the shortages of PPE were abundantly clear. Where people were unable to purchase items such as masks/sanitizer etc, there was a gap where talented volunteers could come together and use their sewing expertise to support the NHS and beyond. 

Due to the volume of plain clothed staff now needing to wear scrubs under PPE, the extra staff deployed to the frontline and often the number of times staff had to change throughout a shift, the need for scrubs was huge.  Through the power of Facebook a few strangers came together to coordinate what would become the most amazing group.

Supplying scrubs to both Hinchingbrooke hospital and Peterborough hospital was the initial goal. With the power of social media our little group grew to thousands of volunteers and we were supplying free scrubs all over. Care homes, hospices, air ambulance, Addenbrookes, Papworth, local GP surgery’s and community health workers the list goes on. Butterfly Legacy Project was born. The community spirit was simply incredible and we did not want to let that go. 

To date we must have achieved around 20,000 sets of scrubs, from recycled duvets, sheets and donations of fabric. 

We are not a charity and make no profit from this. Without the support of communities coming together this could not have been achievable and we have made some amazing friendships along the way. It really has been a lifeline for many of our members who would have otherwise, been lonely.  Many have expressed how it has saved them. 

We were extremely lucky to have received fabric from Chris Evans the radio DJ. His son camped in the garden to raise funds to buy fabric for groups like ours up and down the country. Chris Evans then had a fabric specially commissioned filled with rainbows , his idea was to fill the hospitals with rainbows, once again we were lucky enough to receive around 25 rolls ( we are still working our way through the last two rolls). 

In addition to this we wanted to re-purpose some of the thousands of sets we have created and send these to developing countries in need. So far we have sent scrubs to Malawi and several hospitals in Uganda and a refugee camp in Greece. We will continue to do this. 

As it became more apparent that we had fulfilled the desperate need for scrubs, up popped the need for reusable face masks and supporting the community to keep us all safe. We once again turned our hand to supplying thousands and thousands of masks to those in need these include Age U.K. Homeless Salvation Army, MENCAP, PARCA, CHS group Womens refuge, various schools, mental health facilities, care leavers etc. 

Our focus has also been on care homes in the area suppling scrubs, lap quilts, twiddle muffs, dignity bibs etc for them.  

We’ve formed the most amazing friendships and supported one another through 2020. We would like to continue to help in the community and raise monies for local charities etc so we are open to any suggestions people may have.