Face masks have become a way of life. No trip to the shops or hairdressers is complete without donning your mandatory face covering. Many of the original masks were bland and monochrome, however lots of brightly coloured and unique masks are now appearing. And charities are using the masks to raise much-needed funds. Here TFN gives you a guide of where you can buy masks that look good but also deliver good by supporting the organisations you care about.
Beatson Cancer Charity
Beatson Cancer Charity has been taken aback by the popularity of #TeamBeatson facemasks, helping to raise vital funds for services. More than 2,300 masks have been sold, which has helped to raise £14,000.
Initially a facemask was designed as part of PPE kit for staff and volunteers to wear, stay and feel safe when working in their roles at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. The charity sought a design which stood out and clearly distinguished its brand.
As government guidance on Covid transformed, it quickly responded as many supporters were also keen to show their support by wearing one. Martin Hattie, operations manager for the charity, immediately seized the opportunity and within a couple of weeks, the team had produced two simple designs using our corporate colours.
Initial stock was kindly donated by Orb Group. Due to demand together with tightening of guidelines of the need to wear outside in most retailers, the charity has now expanded the collection with inclusion of its Beatson Tartan versions. Working in partnership with Slanj, the new tartan collection launched in early August and has received orders from around the globe. The tartan design masks and buffs are an ideal face covering for shopping, cycling, walking and outdoor pursuits with a Scottish twist in design.
The full range of Beatson masks can be ordered online.
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland has produced three uniquely designed masks that are available to buy for just £5. The reusable, machine washable, microfibre fabric face masks are ideal to protect people for everyday use, and are available on the online shop.
The money raised from the masks will provide vital services for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions – including Covid-19 - to live life to the full after leaving hospital.
Gillian Green, assistant fundraising director at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland said, “The money raised from our face masks will make sure that people like Sandra get the support they really need. Your purchase will help people do more than survive – it will help them really live.”
Shelter
Arguably the face mask that kicked off the craze for charities getting involved.
Nicola Sturgeon donned the Homeless Tartan mask, made for Shelter by kiltmakers Slanj, on the day before shops reopened in Scotland.
This prompted a surge in demand for the masks, which sell for £10 with 20% going to Shelter.
The masks are 100% wool, backed with a breathable interlining fabric.
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has produced masks in its dashing red colour.
The face masks can be purchased from ECHC’s shops at both the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) and Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
They are £6 each and all funds raised go to transforming the experiences of children, young people and families in hospital and healthcare across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Paul Hodges Trust
The Paul Hodges Trust provides grants to small charities working to tackle poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The charity’s masks are made by women cooperatives in Ghana and Sierra Leone, using unique and vibrant African prints. They are made from organic cotton fabrics and are pleated and triple layered, in line with WHO guidelines. They are washable, reusable and plastic free – making them a great eco-friendly option.
The Face Masks for Better Futures initiative is helping to create decent jobs for women living in some of the poorest communities in the world. And all profits from the masks are reinvested into projects providing women and girls access to education, jobs and healthcare.
The trust has also funded over 700 face masks to be produced and distributed to vulnerable women and girls within Ghana and Sierra Leone, to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
You can see the charity’s selection on Etsy.
Cancer Support Scotland
Cancer Support Scotland has produced bright sky blue masks.
The first batch of the masks were sold out and the rest are going quickly!
Priced at £5 each, the charity has found the masks have been a great way for people to support the charity, receive something needed in return and help awareness of cancer in Scotland.
You can order masks by contacting the charity online.
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
The tireless J-Bay fundraising group for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), driven by Jackie Campbell and her extraordinary band of volunteers, have been hard at work making and selling many different styles of facemask, which come with a breathable, hydrophobic and washable layer to provide extra protection.
Adult masks are £7.50 while kid masks are £6.50.
At least £5 from each sale goes to CHAS, which in turn helps the charity sustain its two hospices (Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch) as well as the CHAS at Home service (which has risen in demand considerably in recent months) and a new Virtual Hospice (the first of its kind in the UK, which was necessitated by the pandemic overnight).
Masks can be ordered and purchased by emailing jackiecampbell80@hotmail.com
Another wonderful long term supporter of CHAS is Elaine Clark of Needles and Pines! Elaine has made almost 3000 masks now and she says: “It’s great to have people coming back for more and sharing their positive experiences with family and friends.” As Elaine points out, face coverings are going to be needed for a while yet, so Needles and Pines offer 100 fabrics to choose from for your face covering orders! All coverings cost £3 each plus a donation.
Order through the Needles and Pines Handmade Crafts Facebook page.
Include Me 2 Club
More than 2500 face masks have been made as part of a community project in East Renfrewshire.
The Include Me 2 Club, a charity based in Barrhead, teamed up with local activist Douglas Yates, who organised and led an initiative to fund and sell face masks for children, young people and adults, after seeing the need when the product became an essential item.
Made by local volunteers and supported by Angelic Threads 2020, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire and Neilston Development Trust, it meant the face masks were both affordable and accessible for everyone in the community - costing just £1 for two masks.
Yates said: “I saw the needs for face masks within the community - a lot of the face masks online were extremely costly and I wanted to supply some that were low in price.
“The response has been so remarkable, that I am even looking for more sewers. I plan to continue until the need for the face masks is satisfied.”
The masks have been distributed throughout the community in partnership with East Renfrewshire Faith Forum, Barrhead Rotary Club, The Church of Jesus Christ and East Renfrewshire Good Causes.
The Pituitary Foundation
The Pituitary Foundation is a national support and information organisation for pituitary patients, their families, friends and carers. It supports people affected by disorders of the pituitary gland such as acromegaly, Cushing's, prolactinoma, diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism.
The foundation’s masks have been selling like hot cakes, the first batch went in just a few hours, and a new delivery was due to drop as this article was published.
The masks can be ordered online and cost £7 each or three for £15.
Farplace Animal Rescue
Farplace Animal Rescue have been helping furry creatures for the last 12 years.
The charity’s masks (£5) are stylish and lightweight, perfect for anyone wearing them out and about!
They can be bought online or in the charity’s shops. A new Falkirk branch is set to be opened in the coming weeks.
