A STROUD ‘craftpreneur’, who helped make 2,000 sets of scrubs for the NHS, has received a lockdown hero award from Stroud Town Council.

Chrissie Lowery, whose business ideas have previously earned her an award from Dragon Theo Paphitis, applied her crafting and entrepreneurial skills to making scrubs during lockdown.

Chrissie was one of the coordinators of Gloucestershire Sewing for the NHS Facebook group, which organised a community effort to sew scrubs for the county’s hospitals, GPs and care homes.

The group was founded at the start of April, when medical protective clothing was in high demand and short supply, as healthcare staff continued to support patients in the fight against coronavirus.

Chrissie led the Stroud team, as well as being in charge of registration, fabrics and funding.

“We made and delivered over 2,000 scrubs and numerous scrub bags and masks,” she said.

Chrissie is now back at her day job, making sensory products, face masks, soft furnishings and more.

Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis made Chrissie one of his 'Small Business Sunday' winners and he has continued to support her entrepreneurial plans and help her to grow her business.

And in turn, Chrissie is now helping other women in business get back on their feet after lockdown, through MIB (Mums in Business) International, where she has recently become a group leader of the Stroud and Cirencester branch.

A former nurse, Chrissie set up her own business after she became unwell in 2014 and was unable to carry on working.

“My business started because I became chronically unwell and I had to give up my nursing career,” she said.

“My son was also diagnosed with autism later that year, so I taught myself to sew and made him a cuddle bed to help him sleep.”

Chrissie’s cuddle beds are now one of the many handmade products she sells online via her online craft market place, Heartizan.

See: heartizan.uk.com/