Club meeting - Speaker - Caroline from Oakley Stichers

Mon, Feb 17th 2025 at 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm

Club meeting with guest speaker - Caroline from Oakley Stitchers

The Story of Oakley Stitchers

It started with a global COVID19 outbreak

In February of 2020, the first case of the COVID19 virus was identified in the UK. The global outbreak had reached our shores and was spreading rapidly among the nation. Just a few weeks later the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak as a global pandemic, and the UK government were scrambling to come up with a plan - eventually deciding the best course of action was to lockdown the country with only critical infrastructure remaining open.

With the UK in complete lockdown, production and purchase lines disabled, along with an unprecedented increase in demand on the NHS, there were desperate cries for help around the country looking for scrubs to go under PPE as the pandemic started to grip the UK and the world.

These lightweight, robust, washable and quick turnaround garments were needed... and needed fast. All the front-line care providers were desperately trying to keep themselves and their ever-growing patient numbers as safe and comfortable as possible in a fast-moving and totally unforeseeable situation. A perfect storm had arrived!

Our founding member, Caroline, identified that there was was something she could do to help. She has the skills to create these rare items that were so sought after. After buying some material and making a few sets she found this was an EXPENSIVE way to help!

It all started with an innocent post to her local Facebook group explaining what was happening, how she was trying to help and asking for any donations of fabric/bedding to help make this more affordable - WELL.... the post went MAD!

The community were rallying to help in whatever way they could. There were offers of fabric, offers to sew, cut, crochet, donations and 'what can I do' from all angles. Our angel, Jill, stepped in and rescued the situation from certain Facebook chaos. This was the start of our production and distribution team for the 100s of local people desperate to help.

Oakley Stitchers was born