The University has provided much-needed surplus materials to a local school where healthcare face masks are being made. The volunteers at Chiltern Academy received enough laminate and clear A3 covers from Dave Plummer, Head of Print and Document Services, which will allow them to make at least 400 additional mask screens.

Whilst closed to pupils, a team of teachers at the school have volunteered their time to make over 1,500 masks. These have been sent to staff at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital where a number of third year University of Bedfordshire students and graduates have chosen to stay on placement.

Anna-Marie Madeley, Lecturer in Midwifery, has been offering neonatal training online and on Twitter using baby manikins. She also streamed a ‘situational’ Newborn Life Support course via webcam from her kitchen table where student paramedics were asked to provide guidance on what to do and ask questions.

Daisy Perry, a second year PE student, is volunteering as a sports teacher at her old school. Daisy, who is half way through a four-year PE degree, was due to start a seven week teaching placement as part of her course but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. Instead she has begun volunteering with Burnt Mill Academy and neighbouring Sir Frederick Gibberd College, Harlow, running PE classes for the pupils of key workers.

A second year Primary Education student is launching free online art classes in time for the Easter break. Martha Kay will encourage kids (and parents) to use different resources from around the house in place of traditional arts materials. Streaming via YouTube, ‘Martha’s Primary World’ will also document her journey in the teaching profession offering tips and advice for other teachers in training.

Martha said: “I am super excited to get my kids art classes up and running. The first video will be about crafting mini Easter egg boxes, which will allow the children to learn about 3D shapes and how to construct nets.”

Having successfully engaged with local faith communities on past projects, Professor Gurch Randhawa from the University’s Institute of Health Research has partnered with the UK’s Sikh Channel, to provide professional advice on supporting Gurdwaras during the coronavirus pandemic.

Streaming on the Sikh Channel via Facebook Live and on Sky (channel 748), the panel of experts address social distancing, symptom awareness and hand washing. They also provide advice on how Gurdwaras can safely provide Langar (an integral community meal) in takeaway or delivery format for families who have no alternative food sources or food bank access, as well as for the elderly and vulnerable in the Gurdwara’s community, both Sikh and non-Sikh.

The University’s Access and Outreach teams have joined forces with the Luton Youth & Families Covid-19 Response Group, which helps to support families in the local community throughout the pandemic.

As part of their efforts, the team has called out to the University’s trainee teachers to provide Harry Potter themed lesson plans and fun activity packs which will be shared via the support group for children and parents to access electronically.

Despite the closure of the Luton campus buildings, community radio station Radio LaB is still successfully broadcasting 24/7. After speedily adjusting to enable remote access to the studio’s equipment, student station managers Nathan Edwin, Achintya Iyer, Serene Muhammed and Adam Simmons are scheduling, editing and programming from their own homes, as well as actively promoting content across social media.

They have also launched a mental health project called the ‘Isolation Tapes’, where students and listeners can submit audio clips of their experiences during Covid-19 in line with Government advice around staying at home.

Peter Simpson-Leek, the University’s Web and Digital Marketing Manager, has started documenting his home schooling journey on Instagram to help share ideas and inspire other working mums and dads.

One of the themes discussed is the loss of routine which is vital to a child’s learning journey. An idea of Pete’s includes a 'promise wall' of all the things to do as a family once this uncertain time is over, whether that's playing football in the park or going to the seaside – just because it can't be done now doesn't mean it won't happen again!

Exercise is important for our mental health and wellbeing especially during times like this. And so Sports staff and students from across the Luton and Bedford campuses have been sharing their home-based fitness routines via social media to help inspire others who may or may not have outdoor access.

The University’s Get Active scheme has also gone interactive and is now offering free classes to all students and staff – the first week has seen over 131 extra people sign up to classes including Yoga, Zumba, Barre Fitness and Boxercise.

Radio and Audio tutor, Terry Lee, has launched a new series from his garden shed with his daughter. The podcast, ‘Primrose and Terry: In the shed’ is produced by 7-year-old Primrose and edited by Terry who works for the University’s School of Culture and Communications.

Terry wanted to allow his daughter to direct some of her own hands-on learning whilst not at school, and so through this project they hope to bring a smile to listeners and inspire others to get creative at home by showing just how simple launching a podcast can be.

Musician and Bedfordshire Honorary Tom Grennan has joined forces with Bedford Kindness and Bedford Foodbank to help the community in delivering supplies to the elderly, vulnerable and those in isolation. Born and raised in Bedford, Tom was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of his outstanding services to the music industry.

The University donated a large quantity of toilet paper to the SMART Prebend Centre in Bedford. The campus on Polhill Avenue had additional supplies which were no longer needed after teaching went remote, so Sarah Blomfield, PA to the Dean of Education and Sport, hand-delivered the paper to volunteers at the homeless charity which was gratefully received.