How to follow Alison’s lead and help others as part of your DofE

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen people and communities coming together to do extraordinary things. From clapping for our key workers each week to delivering food to the vulnerable, we’ve rallied together to support those who are stepping up at this time and who need it the most.

A fantastic example of helping those in need is Silver DofE participant Alison, from Surrey, who is making scrubs and isolation gowns for the NHS.

Before the lockdown, Alison had been volunteering at her local Scout hut as a Young Leader and had been interested in learning textiles for her Skills section. When coronavirus reached the UK, Alison’s mum saw that the NHS needed more scrubs and isolation gowns.

Alison says: “It seemed like a great idea to do something to help the community and something to do for my DofE.”

Over the Easter holidays, she and her mum spent their time indoors making scrubs trousers, isolation gowns and hats for their local health centre. There is still a big demand for laundry bags, masks, scrubs, gowns and hats particularly in care homes which Alison is hoping to continue making over the coming weeks.

Like many participants, Alison is continuing to do her DofE activities while at home and is joining hundreds of thousands of people every day to take part in ‘P.E. with Joe’ for her Physical section, which is keeping both her and her family fit and positive throughout lockdown.

For participants wondering how they can carry on with their DofE, Alison says:

“Don’t worry, there is always something that you could do to help. There are people who can’t sew and are delivering packages, material, thread and finished projects such as scrubs to people’s houses (keeping their distance of course) and to health centres and hospitals.

“These people are as important as those who are sewing. Try to look for something that you would enjoy or that you might have a bit of experience in.”