Ordinarily the Easter holidays at Mansfield-based R.E.A.L. Education are spent preparing inspiring lessons for students for the upcoming term.

However this Easter, life at R.E.A.L. — like many other institutions currently — was very different.
Education delivery continued over Easter to help support critical workers as well as continuing to educate R.E.A.L.’s most vulnerable students, but that did not stop some of R.E.A.L’s team doing more to support others during the global coronavirus pandemic.

Duncan Allen (above), R.E.A.L. Education’s Science, Technology Engineering and Maths Lead (STEM), took the time to use R.E.A.L.’s 3D printers to join in #thebigprint to make PPE (personal protective equipment).

Set up by 3dcrowd.uk, the initiative is coordinating volunteers around the country to produce face shields for frontline NHS workers.

Duncan said: “At a time where many people are feeling scared and powerless, I wanted to contribute to something positive that would make a great educational point for students at R.E.A.L. who are accessing STEM curriculum resources.

“Recently our learners have been developing 3D printing skills by fabricating parts to build prosthetic arms and because of how keen they have been to be part of something that could change someone’s life, the immediacy of the need for PPE changes the motivation for our learners to help save lives.”

R.E.A.L.’s first batch of protective visors were shipped early in April and its efforts to produce more face visors, for both local and national frontline workers, are under way.