A show of strength

Lockdown has brought out best in communities and businesses across Lancashire

- Emma Mayoh

A NEW PLOT

Weeton’s Black Powder Gin have put their distillery to good use. The multi-award-winning company is not only making some of the best gins in the world but is also producing much-needed hand sanitizer for the NHS and keyworkers in their community. Along with support from natural toiletries brand Faith in Nature, who have a base in Radcliffe and supplied 50 liters of aloe vera wash, they have donated many liters of hand sanitizer to frontline workers.

‘There appear to be many commercial producers who are capitalizing on demand and thereby charging exorbitant prices,’ said company founder Anthony Dallas. ‘We all feel very humbled to be able to do something at such a significantly critical time.’

Black Powder needs help to secure 100ml atomizer bottles or containers to fill with sanitizer. If you can help or have a specific need for sanitizer email info@ blackpowdergin.co.uk.

SEW MUCH SUPPORT

Cokson & Clegg, a Blackburn community clothing company founded by Patrick Grant, has created more than 100,000 items of PPE for frontline workers and they are making an anti-viral snood which is going to a huge range of applications globally.

Patrick, who is currently on our TV screens The Great British Sewing Bee, said: ‘It has been a brilliant collective effort. We’ve had help from a number of local manufacturers; County Brook Mill in Colne have helped with cutting fabric; Edward Taylor Textiles in Blackburn and Eastman Staples in Huddersfield have lent us machinery; Hobkirk’s in Blackburn brought an engineer back out of furlough to build us some machines; Carringtons in Chorley are providing the fabrics.