PODIATRY lecturers and students from New College Durham volunteered to step out and help the homeless.

For the fifth year running, New College Durham lecturers Barbara Chambers and Natalie Roe, along with five of their students, spent a day at the Crisis centre in Newcastle providing much-needed footcare to this vulnerable group of adults.

The students, who are in their final year studying BSc (Hons) Podiatry at New College Durham, worked alongside other health professionals, including GPs, to providing Crisis residents with access to essential healthcare and wellbeing treatments and advice.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the wider community, the podiatry students were also able to distribute over 300 pairs of socks and 150 pairs of shoes to the Crisis centre.

Ms Chambers said: “On the day the students set up a three station clinic.

“At the first station the guests had their feet washed and were triaged, next they received podiatric treatment and education, and lastly they were issued with socks and a shoes.

“It was a great experience and enabled the students to give something back to the community.”

Podiatry student Jonathan Carr, 27, of Bowburn, said:

“Working with Crisis was a rewarding opportunity.

“There are people out there that need care, which they may not be able to access due to personal circumstances. “Not only were we available to provide aid and advice, but there were doctors on site in case any further care was needed.”

  • For more information about podiatry programmes visit www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk, go to the next open event from 5pm to 7pm, on Tuesday February 7, or contact 0191-375 4040.