A talented group of Royal High School Bath students have set up a business designing handmade matching facemasks for children and their teddy bears.

Eloise, Daisy, Pam and Eliza in Year 11, set up ‘Teddy And Me Masks’ to help young children who are feeling anxious about returning to school after a long period in isolation.

Daisy, social networker (instagram manager), marketing, PR and logo designer, said: “We are four girls that are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young children. We make masks for both children and their toys. The aim of our products is to provide a feeling of comfort and security to try and encourage children to wear masks and feel less scared of teachers when going back to school.”

The girls came up with the idea as part of the Design Thinking course run by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) - the brief was to work together to find innovative solutions to some of the problems faced during the Covid-19 crisis.

Eloise had already designed and made masks for her three-year-old cousin and her favourite dolly which helped her feel more comfortable when seeing people in masks and so the idea grew.

Eloise, innovator and product designer, said: “During the making of PPE for the NHS and a number of primary schools I decided to make my three-year-old cousin a face mask with a matching one for her dolly as I thought it would be a nice idea to help her feel less scared of seeing people now wearing face-masks. It was the making of this mask and the group work in the design thinking course that led me to the concept of TeddyandMe Masks.”

Pam, web designer and general manager, said: “Eloise explained her idea to me in the design thinking course and I related to it as I had a similar problem with my nephew who was afraid to return to school. I have really enjoyed creating a website to advertise the business and help make a difference to young children in these uncertain times.”

All the masks are handmade and available to purchase online with a choice of fun prints including birds, llama’s, toucans, lady birds and dinosaurs.

Key responsibilities for the business are;

• Eloise = innovator (product designer), manufacturer, client manager, photographer and finance manager
• Pam = web designer and general manager
• Daisy = social networker (instagram manager), marketing and PR and logo designer
• Eliza = advertising and PR; hospital liaison

As part of the project the girls designed a website, and will donate 10 per cent of all profits to Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Grand Appeal.

Eliza, advertising, PR and hospital liaison, said: “We wanted the Bristol Children’s Hospital to be our charity partner since it is dedicated to caring for children and our new business also aims to protect children and help them through these uncertain times. On a personal note, my brother has severe asthma and so has been to the Children’s Hospital numerous times so we are very aware of the brilliant work that is done there.”

After reading about the new business venture, former Royal High School Bath student and children’s book writer Jane-Anne Hodgson was keen to help and has offered to fund a website upgrade.

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