Sisters adapt business to supply key workers with face masks

Two sisters who used to make seats for boats have got to the bottom of a different problem – they are now making safety kit for medics.

Miryam Brizuela and her sister Patricia were making sure bums didn’t get a bumpy ride on London’s rivers, great and small, making upholstery at their factory in South Dock Marina, Calypso Way, Surrey Quays.

But now the duo, through their six-year-old company Marine Canvas Hut, are ensuring NHS staff can care for the sick more safely.

And they have managed to recruit a battalion of volunteers to help them make more – and are supplying a string of key workers in the area.

The business, which has expanded to do furniture for houses and businesses, is not charging for the face masks its staff make.

The visors, originally created from their own prototype for 15 marina staff, led to the creation of another prototype for hard hats, and 20 of these were donated to the same people.

But then they decided to create visors for NHS and care homes as coronavirus hit these shores.

Miryam said: “We knew we could help, so we gathered a group of incredible volunteers who live in the area, to work on the visors.

“After that, we didn’t stop producing them. The complications are finding the right materials, as very quickly the suppliers are running out of stock. We don’t really see the impact of our work directly.

“But what we do see is the big smiles on the faces of the social workers, pharmacists and care home staff when we tell them that they can have as many as they need and for free.

“They can’t believe they are getting PPE from a source which isn’t the NHS or the government. They all are immensely grateful.

“We are also donating all our stock to produce these visors and donating some other materials to other groups doing the same but in need of materials that we have.

“I would like people to understand the seriousness of this virus and how stretched NHS staff are, but also care home staff, social workers, mental health services, pharmacists, and post office staff.

“They are not getting the PPE that they need and they are at risk every day. Every day we are asked by different professionals if we can provide these visors for them.

“Sometimes, it is heartbreaking to know our visors are the only PPE they have.

“Please, send us an email if you need 3Ply washable face masks (not coded) and face shields. We will make every effort to help.”

To donate towards the cost of making new visors, click here.