A BRADFORD multi-academy trust has donated "around 200" face masks, protective goggles and glasses to the NHS in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feversham Education Trust - which includes Feversham Academy, Bronte Girls Academy, Queensbury Academy, Feversham First Steps Nursery and Iqra Academy - uses the equipment for science lessons at its schools.

But, with schools closed amid the lockdown, the trust's Chief Executive, Mubaaruck Ibrahim, said it would donate as many of the items as possible to the NHS.

"The NHS has a shortage of things like masks and protective eyewear at the moment", Mr. Ibrahim said.

"As schools are closed, we don't need those items right now, and the NHS has a much more pressing need for them than we do.

"We're hoping that our decision will spur on other schools, in Bradford and beyond, to also donate to the NHS.

"Every little helps - so we hope other multi-academy trusts follow suit.

"Everything that we're all seeing right now, in the media, suggests that there is a need for this protective gear.

"We've sent a message to all of our principals, asking them to donate protective goggles and eyewear, if they have any, during this national emergency."

Yesterday, Graham Waters, Assistant Principal at Feversham Education Trust's Queensbury Academy, met with Nancy O'Neill, the Deputy Chief Officer at NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), at NHS Bradford Districts CCG's Scorex House office.

Mr. Waters handed over the donations, on behalf of Feversham Education Trust.

Nancy O’Neill said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve been offered from schools, businesses and volunteers across the Bradford and Craven districts and it means so much to our NHS staff to see communities coming together to help them, and many other vital services, get through this crisis.”

The donation from Feversham Academy Trust comes not long after a Bradford takeaway donated 60 free meals to NHS staff at a Bradford hospital.

Waseem Ahmed, owner of Burning Bull, on Great Horton Road, and his brother,Waqar, donated the meals as a gesture of good-will, with Waseem saying, “We really appreciate the hard work the NHS is doing and they were really appreciative and emotional when we handed the food over. It was our way of saying thank you, for all they do.”

“We have also said we are offering NHS staff a discount of 50 per cent off takeaway food from Burning Bull as an extra show of appreciation", he added.