Footcare Fife is FVA's personal footcare service. Trained volunteers cut and file toenails for people who struggle to do it themselves, at clinics across Fife, for £10 an appointment. The money covers equipment, volunteer expenses and the like; we make no profit on it.
To ask for an appointment, or to see where clinics are held, go to Footcare Fife.
Why footcare matters
Most of us take thousands of steps a day. Toenails that are not looked after can make walking painful, stop people getting out and about, and lead to health problems that then need medical treatment.
Good personal footcare helps older people in particular to stay active, well and independent for longer. It plays a real part in preventing falls and fractures, and it can reduce pain and improve confidence, mobility and quality of life.
Is it an NHS service?
No. Personal footcare such as cutting toenails is not part of NHS podiatry, which concentrates on people with a clinical need. That left a gap for people who need help with their feet but not treatment.
FVA set up Footcare Fife with NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to fill it. The training our volunteers receive and the equipment they use are endorsed by NHS Fife, and the service is fully insured.
How it began
Footcare Fife started in 2014 with a pilot at Whyteman's Brae Hospital in Kirkcaldy, following the Scottish Government's guidance on personal footcare. NHS Fife's podiatry service has been a partner from the beginning, and the Health and Social Care Partnership helps by providing space for clinics in NHS and council buildings.
From the start the clinics were meant to be friendly as well as useful. Each appointment takes about half an hour, which leaves time for a chat - for some people who find it hard to get out, that matters as much as the footcare.
Volunteer with us
Footcare Fife depends entirely on its volunteers, who are recruited and trained by the Footcare Fife team, with training, materials, support and expenses all provided. Volunteering with Footcare Fife tells you more.
