February 2025
Conferences
After Rosie’s star turn at the Paediatric Conference at Charing Cross Hospital, she was invited to attend another one, “Growing Future’s: Sustainable Health for Tomorrow” run by the London School of Paediatrics. Sustainability and integrated care are a good fit with the values of the Scrubbery.
There wasn’t a speaking slot but Rosie and Suzy were invited to set up a camouflage net by the entrance to encourage people to mix and mingle. A representative from the King’s Fund who stopped to tie on a few strips said in the panel discussion that, for her, it was one of the best ever welcomes to a conference. The hosts have kept the camouflage net for a forthcoming committee session and plan to finish it on their ‘Strive and Thrive’ day in April. Suzy met an unknown relative from New Zealand and a good time was had by all.
Thank you to Bryony, Katie and Sarah, the conference organisers.
There is much that goes into preparation for an event like this. A tennis net takes 3,500 strips to turn it into camouflage. Our team had just two weeks to dye, dry and cut the fabric into strips. Well done and thank you to all who helped.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
As a direct result of speaking at the paediatric conferences in response to our call out for equipment, The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice has kindly donated two hospital beds, a brand new incubator, an electric wheelchair, an adapted children’s buggy and Ensure (a nutritional supplement) to go to Ukraine. A huge thank goes to Alison from the hospice who arranged this donation. Rosie is sorting out the logistics, which is complex because the beds are larger than the usual items we send. The plan is for the two beds to be transported by British Ukrainian Aid and the rest of the equipment to go with Medical Lifelines Ukraine in their next fleet of ambulances.
A children’s hospital in Ukraine has been bombed and destroyed. We need to do what we can to help with the setting up of a new one and this is a start.
Call out for donations
Yoga mats and clean sleeping bags please
Handyman and garden tools: for example, all those surplus screwdrivers nestling in your toolboxes or that extra shovel.
On-going
Another camouflage net is nearly finished.
We will be making quilt tops to use up fabric.
Sewing fabric for more scrubs is being sourced.
Wellbeing bags need to be assembled for the next ‘Strive and Survive’ day.
A big thank you to Gareth and the people of Forest Green for continuing to collect items
Thank you to everyone who is making trench candles.
Knitters (and Aran wool) are desperately needed to make more cast socks.
Kathy Dawes
We are sad to report the sudden death of Kathy a few weeks ago. She was a loyal and much- loved supporter of the Scrubbery as well as a very skilled sewer. We will all miss her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, family and friends.
