Filkins boy makes face masks to raise money for Amate Animalia

Making the best use of his time during lockdown, Jacob Gough has been making masks from decorated fabrics including, flowers, pirates, Toy Story and, his favourite, Harry Potter.

His efforts don’t stop there though, as the youngster has been selling his creations to raise money for Oxfordshire exotic animal rescue charity, Amate Animalia.

So far, Jacob, who lives in Filkins, near Carterton, has made almost 150 masks, while raising £345 for the charity.

His mum, Shannon Gough, 32, said: “I was doing a bit of sewing and and Jacob wanted to have a go and make some masks.

“When lockdown started he made himself a superhero cape, then he saw on the telly that loads of people were wearing masks so he made himself one.

“It’s a simple design for him to do and he then made more for the family.

“I put it on Facebook that Jacob was making masks and then it got shared around and now we’ve got people from all over asking for masks.

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“So far, the masks have gone to Sheffield, Essex and quite a few in Oxford.”

With a little help from his mum, Jacob is more than capable of making the masks himself and relishes the challenge.

Miss Gough added: “He looks at it a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, and he’s constantly back and forth doing it.

“I set the sewing machine up for him and from then he can do it himself, including the back stitch and finishing stitches.

“I then iron the pleats and he’ll put the headbands in the masks.”

Jacob, who attends St Christopher’s Church of England school in nearby Langford, is very much an animal lover.

“He chose an animal charity because he likes animals, he especially likes exotic animals and snakes are his favourite,” said Miss Gough.

“He loves animals and is brilliant with them.

“He’s got a dog called Betty, a cat called Neville, named after Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter, and two long haired guinea pigs called Monty and Harry.

“He’s very hands on with his animals and the routines, he’ll get up in the morning and feed them all and do all the care needs.

“He even wants to convert the garage into an animal sanctuary and wants a snake next but I don’t think the neighbours are too keen on that.”

Miss Gough said Jacob saw Amate Animalia was taking care of a guinea pig, and because he has two of his own, he decided he would donate the money raised from selling the masks to the charity.

“Originally his target was £50 but then it rocketed up so he wants to get to £400 now, that’s his mission,” Miss Gough said.

Amate Animalia, which has its base in Kidlington, is run completely by volunteers and rescues exotic mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.

Jessica West, an animal care volunteer, said: “Jacob’s donation is mammoth for us, it actually made one of the girls at work cry.

“Jacob showed there is kindness and goodness out there, he’s so young and eager which is great to see.

“We sometimes get 10 phone calls a day to pick up and rescue animals like lizards, pythons, parrots and tortoises. People have all sorts as pets and buy them as babies but they don’t know what they’re doing, yet sometimes people pass away and leave these animals behind.”

“I then iron the pleats and he’ll put the headbands in the masks.”

Jacob, who attends St Christopher’s Church of England school in nearby Langford, is very much an animal lover.

“He chose an animal charity because he likes animals, he especially likes exotic animals and snakes are his favourite,” said Miss Gough.

“He loves animals and is brilliant with them.

“He’s got a dog called Betty, a cat called Neville, named after Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter, and two long haired guinea pigs called Monty and Harry.

“He’s very hands on with his animals and the routines, he’ll get up in the morning and feed them all and do all the care needs.

“He even wants to convert the garage into an animal sanctuary and wants a snake next but I don’t think the neighbours are too keen on that.”

Miss Gough said Jacob saw Amate Animalia was taking care of a guinea pig, and because he has two of his own, he decided he would donate the money raised from selling the masks to the charity.

“Originally his target was £50 but then it rocketed up so he wants to get to £400 now, that’s his mission,” Miss Gough said.

Amate Animalia, which has its base in Kidlington, is run completely by volunteers and rescues exotic mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.

Jessica West, an animal care volunteer, said: “Jacob’s donation is mammoth for us, it actually made one of the girls at work cry.

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“Jacob showed there is kindness and goodness out there, he’s so young and eager which is great to see.

“We sometimes get 10 phone calls a day to pick up and rescue animals like lizards, pythons, parrots and tortoises. People have all sorts as pets and buy them as babies but they don’t know what they’re doing, yet sometimes people pass away and leave these animals behind.”