Caring Soles Project Steps into Gorgie

The Eric Liddell Centre’s ‘Caring Soles’ programme has launched personal footcare service satellite site in the Gorgie/Dalry area and is looking for volunteers.

This will run on Tuesdays from St Martins Community Resource Centre (232 Dalry Road, EH11 2JG).  The service is kindly promoted by the social group for people over 60, ‘Good Morning Gorgie’ who meet there every Tuesday over teas/coffees and a light lunch between 10am – 12.30 which accompanies activities that include: creative writing, knitting, seated exercise and invited speakers.  The group was setup and is supported by local health charity ‘Health All Round’ (www.healthallround.org.uk).

The social focus of ‘Good Morning Gorgie’ works really well with the health benefits of ‘Caring Soles’ to boost the wellbeing of older people in this area of Edinburgh.

All enquiries on & bookings for appointments for the Caring Soles personal footcare service can be made by contacting Lisa at the Eric Liddell Centre (0131 447 4520).

Volunteer Training Day

We have our next training day on Wednesday 11^th October (from 11am to 4pm) at the Eric Liddell Centre with Lisa providing the volunteer training alongside an NHS Lothian Podiatrist for the detailed footcare practical training.  There is space for up to five additional people to take part in the session.

Summary of the Footcare volunteer role:

Welcome clients, provide footcare, chat with people about things including local activities that encourage better mobility and social engagement for older people, signposting to other support services where needed (carer support, dementia, hearing loss for example), take cash payments, collect feedback from clients via small forms.

What Footcare Volunteers Receive in return:

As a footcare volunteer you gain valuable experience and rewarding skills, insight and understanding in the importance of good footcare, support your local community, bring confidence to people and their feet.  We look for a minimum commitment of 2 hours a week (or 4hours a fortnight), travel and refreshment expenses are covered, training and support provided.  You should have an interest in health & wellbeing, ability to be good with people, and enjoy chatting about lots of interesting things with a variety of people