A CHESTER-BASED group has donated hundreds of headbands and face mask adaptors to NHS trusts across the country to help staff manage during the coronavirus crisis.

Handmade for Dementia has a strong community group on Facebook which had previously dedicated its time to making dementia cannula sleeves, dementia comfort dolls and fidget lap mats for people living with dementia.

During the mid to late stages of dementia, a person can become very anxious and fidgety; 'twiddle' items have been proven to help in most cases.

The award-winning volunteer project has created nearly 10,000 hand-knitted cannula sleeves for dementia patients at 100 UK hospitals, to help ease stress and anxiety.

Sharon Wallace, founder of the group, explained that, temporarily, the group has suspended making the dementia cannula sleeves and are currently focusing on making headbands and face mask adaptors for the NHS.

Members of the group from all across the UK, have been helping out and making the items – designed to make NHS staff feel more comfortable wearing PPE for hours on end – for their local areas.

Within the first three weeks, more than 1,700 items have been donated to hospitals and local care homes.

They include 295 items donated to the Countess of Chester Hospital, 215 to Arrowe Park Hospital, 140 to Glan Clwyd, 90 to Wrexham Maelor, 50 to Deeside Community Hospital and 130 to five local care homes.

In addition, 574 items have been donated to Derby Royal and 50 to Kings College in London, among others.

Sharon added: "Once all this is over, the Handmade for Dementia ladies will be back at our weekly knitting group at The Piper, Piper's Lane, Hoole, Mondays 1pm-3.30pm.

"There, we make, risk assess and label the dementia cannula sleeves before they are sent to the NHS trusts.

"Anyone is welcome to come and make them with us. We provide the wool, however, they will need 6mm knitting needles."

The dementia cannula sleeves are made to a specific design and each are risk assessed before being donated.

For more information on the group and how you can help, visit www.facebook.com/groups/HandmadeForDementia.