Sellafield workers unite for their communities

Prospect and other union members at Sellafield have raised more than £26,000 to help fund Personal Protective Equipment for medical teams and district nursing staff in Cumbria.

Members of Prospect, Unite and GMB launched the community fundraising campaign on 4 April.

They have already delivered individual hand sanitiser bottles, disposable car seat covers and shoe covers to community nursing, palliative care and hospice teams.

The campaign’s original aim was to raise £10,000. But it hit that target almost immediately. It then reached £20,000 in just a few days.

The campaigners have vowed to carry on and increased the target to £30,000.

Prospect Sellafield branch president and national executive committee member, Steve Nicholson, said:

“Sellafield workers have a long and proud history of supporting local charities and communities.

“This is another great example of Prospect members going the extra mile to help other key workers.”

The campaign has also helped to find suppliers for vital PPE.

Forth Engineering, a local firm and part of Sellafield’s local supply chain, used its business contacts in China to source 6,000 masks and 6,000 gowns.

Forth has also used its expertise to invent a disinfecting robot to help in the fight against coronavirus, and is already receiving orders for the equipment.

You can donate to the campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ppe-for-wchand-copeland-district-nursing-teams