If you’re feeling powerless right now, we understand. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we get that too. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, we’re working on something you might be interested in.
After seeing the mounting evidence around even simple face coverings helping to limit the spread of COVID-19, and with the need to keep surgical masks and FFP3 respirators for those working in health care, we made the decision to help set up #Masks4All UK.
WE’RE AT TIPPING POINT
Scotland has recently advised that a face covering should be worn when outside – and Boris Johnson has (finally) admitted that face coverings will be useful when coming out of lockdown. We feel that the Government is holding back on making masks mandatory due to the potential risk that people will buy surgical masks and other PPE which absolutely must be left for the NHS and key workers.
The Coronavirus pandemic is a huge hurdle to overcome but in times of crisis, acting on your values is at its most important. Following the science and best practice initiatives that bring people together is our best hope for navigating the challenges toward a better world.
As people can still inadvertently spread COVID-19 without knowing they’re infected, the issue isn’t just catching it, but also accidentally spreading it to a stranger, a friend or a loved one.
Wearing even a simple fabric mask outdoors can help to limit that spread when combined with other social distancing practices like washing your hands and only going outside when you need to.
INTRODUCING #MASKS4ALL
#Masks4All UK is an open campaign to empower the public to make and wear their own reusable cloth masks to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus.
It’s built on the amazing work of the grassroots #Masks4All campaign in the Czech Republic that took only 3 days to encourage nearly 100% of citizens to wear homemade masks.
#Masks4all UK has officially launched, and things have kicked off quite a bit in the past couple of weeks. Our campaign has received incredible national coverage in the BBC (twice), The Guardian, The Times, Telegraph the Daily Mail, The Mirror and more (you can see our full press coverage here) and now we’re launching our #Masks4allChallenge, which is where we’d love your support.
THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO:
Here’s how you can help grow the people’s movement to make masks mandatory and inspire others to make and wear them:
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MAKE A MASK
You can make a re-usable cotton mask in as little as one minute depending on what you have available at home. Here’s the #Masks4All page showing different ways to make masks in 10 minutes or less.
Make it edgy, make it beautiful, make it unique. This is to protect ourselves and the communities around us but there’s no reason we can’t have a little fun with it as well.
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SHARE
Many people aren’t yet wearing masks because it’s not a normal thing to do yet. They may be questioning whether it will help or perhaps are feeling self-conscious about doing something out of the ordinary in public. We need you to share your masked faces to encourage others to make that jump and help teach others so we can protect one another as a community.
Make sure to use #Masks4All so we can get it trending and spread the message further and wider in defence of our most vulnerable. Together we can make a difference.
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SIGN THE PETITION
The single most important thing you can do is to sign the petition that’s calling on the Government to make masks mandatory in the UK. If we protect our most vulnerable and make sensible decisions in defence of one another then we will be able to emerge from this crisis more resilient than before.
WHY GET INVOLVED
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It’s a seriously important message to share – wearing a mask saves lives. It’s as simple as that.
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We need to get the word out that it is imperative surgical masks are left for the NHS and by making our own, we’re not taking PPE from the frontline (which is what’s currently happening)
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Fashion brands are already gearing themselves up to make masks at scale – but making our own at home using old material is the most ethical and sustainable way to do it.
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It’s a fun, creative activity that we can all do safely at home as individuals or as a group/family.
To find out more about this campaign, check out the #Masks4All website and help us to come together in defence of one another by signing, creating and sharing in solidarity with us all.
