A Lancashire furniture maker has received an official thanks from the office of the Queen and the Mayor of Bolton in recognition of efforts to help staff on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
The award comes after staff at Sofas by Saxon, a manufacturer of luxury handmade sofas and furniture, volunteered to make scrubs for key healthcare workers, which were donated to the NHS free of charge.
Back in April, the company’s Managing Director, Matt Deighton, saw that the UK’s key healthcare workers were in desperate need of PPE (personal protective equipment) and decided to do something to help. Within weeks, their Lancashire factory had been converted to allow the company to produce protective scrubs using their existing sewing machines and equipment.
Staff at the company — who had been furloughed when the pandemic put a stop to furniture production — were only too happy to do their part for the NHS, offering their time and skills on a voluntary basis. Special care was taken to ensure that all volunteers were able to socially distance and stay safe while they worked against the clock to make vital PPE.
In addition to this, Sofas by Saxon started cutting fabric for local people wanting to sew scrubs at home and even turned their premises into a pick-up and drop-off point for local people looking to help the NHS.
Now, their selfless actions have been recognised with an official letter of thanks from Sir Warren J Smith KCVO KStJ KP, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater-Manchester.
In his letter, Mr Smith applauded the efforts of Sofas by Saxon’s staff, saying: “What you have achieved by storing fabric, cutting out scrubs, and distributing them ready to sew to home sewers who were part of the Bolton Scrub Hub has made a tremendous difference to the recovery in Greater Manchester.”
The company also received a letter from Mayor of Bolton, Linda Thomas, along with a certificate honouring their hard work.
Mayor Thomas praised the selfless dedication shown by staff during these difficult times and thanked the company on behalf of the people of Bolton: “You continued to work and contribute during this time to ensure vital services and production kept running despite the dangers faced.
“It is this selflessness and dedication that you have shown for which the people of Bolton are truly grateful. So, I wanted to award you this certificate of recognition to say a heartfelt thank you, and to let you know you are appreciated and much valued.
“Your work now and in the future will benefit generations to come and will not be forgotten.”
As a sign of their continued appreciation for key workers, Sofas by Saxon has joined the Blue Light Card scheme, allowing NHS, emergency services, social care sector, and Armed Forces workers to claim 5% off handmade furniture purchased online or in their Lancashire showroom.
The company is also giving away a luxury velvet Chesterfield sofa to an NHS worker. You can nominate a worthy recipient by filling in the details here: https://www.sofasbysaxon.com/
The competition closes on 8 November 2020 and the winner will receive their handmade sofa in time for Christmas.
