The following information has been taken from www.forgottenfeet.org, a charity that FootHealth Battersea is proud to support.

Forgotten Feet was set up in 2013 by Deborah Monk, a Podiatrist in Worcester.

The aim of the project is to put in place a free regular chiropody/podiatry service for those most in need and least likely to have the means to access it. This targets the homeless population, but also includes the socially isolated and vulnerable populations; It is set up in locations where it can be easily accessed by these people in venues such as homeless or drop in centres. There are many towns covered by Forgotten Feet Clinics, run by Podiatrists and Foot health Practitioners. Their vision is to set up clinics in as many towns as possible, where a need is identified, creating a network of free foot care for the poorest in society throughout the UK. Forgotten Feet take a friendly less formal approach, and although primarily set up to alleviate painful foot conditions amongst the homeless, they have an open door policy and encourage as many service users as possible to take up the service.

People seen within the Forgotten Feet network range across rough sleepers, sofa surfers, those in shelter and people who have recently moved into accommodation, vulnerable, socially isolated and those on the poverty line. 

There are numerous factors relating to homelessness, a minority are entrenched homeless and prefer that way of life. There is a higher level of mental illness within the homeless & socially isolated population along with drug and alcohol abuse which can at times be quite challenging. Also, homeless/rough sleepers are generally a fairly transient population.

Research has shown that those taking up the offer of a podiatry service are far more likely to see other health care professionals. People often want to talk about other serious issues they may have, and thus it is useful to have local phone numbers of e.g. rape crisis centres, emergency shelters, local GP’s, drug & alcohol advisory services to name but a few. A well set up drop in-centre should have these numbers to hand and staff to deal with them

The podiatry service they offer through the Forgotten Feet project thus tends to be of a basic short-term nature and aims primarily to alleviate pain, replace worn out or ill-fitting footwear to prevent further problems, and help with simple biomechanical issues, as well as to show compassion – an important consideration.

You can support Forgotten Feet by donating online via their Virgin Money Giving Page HERE or if you have any loose change that you would like to donate to this incredibly worthwhile charity when you're visiting us in the practice please let the receptionists know as the Forgotten Feet collection box is behind reception to keep it Covid safe.

To find out more about what Forgotten Feet do and how they support the homeless and socially vulnerable communities follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forgottenfeet.org/