A group set up to help local hospital staff with key equipment during the PPE crisis has grown into a major operation helping a whole host of charities across the area.

The Dudley For the Love of Scrubs voluntary group is on the verge of becoming a registered charity and moving into dedicated premises in Stourbridge as it keeps on expanding.

And to reflect the new focus of its work the group has changed its name to Crafting For Communities.

From humble beginnings with a few dedicated volunteers making things like scrubs, scrubs bags, headbands and visors for frontline NHS staff dealing with Covid, the operation now has 1,500 members and 14 hubs across Dudley, Sandwell, Birmingham and Kidderminster.

And as hospitals have solved their equipment issues, the group has refocused on supporting a host of community projects.

With a few hundred knitters, sewers or crocheters the group is now supporting hospital new natal units; Women’s Aid, homelessness charities, women with breast cancer and other community groups.

“If someone needs something, we can make it,” says founder Lisa Maidment.

She is currently shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year in BBC Radio WM awards, while the group is shortlisted for the Community Spirit award.

The group is going through the process of registering as a charity, and when that is completed, hopefully in a few months, it is due to move into the Mary Stevens Centre at Stourbridge where rooms can be used for workshops, cutting, sorting and storage.

“We’ve grown rapidly in the last three months,” says Lisa.

They continue to support nearly all the hospitals across Dudley and further afield, but now it’s more likely to be providing a knitted teddy for a newly-admitted child, or a hat or boots or a bonding square for children and mothers in the new-natal unit.

Women with breast cancer get a ‘hug in a bag’ gift from the group’s makers; while clothes are made for families fleeing abuse.

And special ‘Worry Monsters’ come with zipped mouths, for children struggling with the psychological effects of abuse.

“They write their worries down on a piece of paper, unzip the might and pop their worry inside to get rid of it.”

The group are currently producing more than 1,000 items a month, with the 14 hubs across the region used to drop off materials and cutting kits to be collected by the makers before the finalised items are created for collection.

Lisa says it has given many people a sense of purpose, contributing to the community at a time when it was difficult to make a difference.

As the initiative grows, so does the need for more funds. Applications for funding are being made, but if you can help search for the Crafting for Communities Facebook page or email Crafting.for.communities@gmail.com