As Oakham’s Design and Technology Department reaches a momentous milestone – making and delivering an astonishing 30,000 visors for Key Workers – the School wants to thank all those involved in making this happen.
“It seems fitting to quote Helen Keller – that ‘Alone we can do little; together we can do so much’,” says Tim Weston, Head of Oakham’s Design Technology Department. “It is only through the combined effort of many that we have been successful. It is through the kind generosity of Rutland Plastics, the donations of key supplies from supportive companies such as Fellowes, and the wonderfully generous donations from across our School, alumni and local communities, that we were able to expand and upscale our production.”
Tim continues, “30 volunteers from across the School community and their families have worked tirelessly to construct the 25,000 visors made in conjunction with Rutland Plastics. Without their hard work and efforts, we would not have been able to deliver this much-needed equipment into the hands of so many Key Workers.”
The journey to 30,000 visors began eight weeks ago, when Oakham became one of the first schools to make visors, using their own 3D printers and Laser Cutters. Members of the Design and Technology Department, as well as a pupil who helped remotely, managed to hone their approach and production line; resulting in an impressive 600+ masks being made each day. After a week working at this rate, they became aware that their efforts weren’t matching the high level of demand, and so Tim worked closely with Rutland Plastics to increase production further. “They were able to create custom moulds for the headbands, which was the part taking the longest for us to make,” says Tim. “They could produce them at a rate of two headbands every 20 seconds; meaning we could take a massive jump in production. We worked collaboratively to get the final design right, so that the visors could be easily and quickly constructed by our volunteers – meaning we could get the visors to those who need them faster.”
The visors have all now been delivered to those who have requested them – which includes hospitals in Peterborough, Leicester, Lincoln, and Kettering, and care homes and doctors’ surgeries across Rutland, as well as further afield in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
