28 FOOT FEB10 foot friends:Footwear_Jan10_p30 02/02/2010 12:38 Page 28
Footwear friends
Get by with a little
help from my Friends
R
ichard Kottler (pictured above at the Footwear Friends Design
Awards) is taking over from Simon Goodman as the President of
the footwear industry charity Footwear Friends from 2010 until
2012. Richard Paice is the founder of the Footwear Friends
If you would like to know more about the work of
Designer Awards and Simon Goodman is the Chairman and outgoing
Footwear Friends please contact:
info@footwearfriends.org.uk
President (for the year 2009/2010). Simon will remain the Chairman of
Footwear Friends.
Footwear Friends, has been in existence one way or another for
These are two examples of requests received:
nearly 200 years and today is as relevant as ever. The Charity
distributes thousands of pounds each year to deserving cases from all
Mrs. M.L. is 77, a widow and was a footwear operative for 21 years.
areas of the Footwear trade. The original needs of its beneficiaries may
The case was submitted to the Footwear Friends by SSAFA-Forces
have changed over the years but there is no doubt that it is still a
Help who report:
necessity.
“Mrs. L’s Doctor contacted us after treating her for depression. The last
Footwear Friends give financial support either in the form of a one-
few years have not been kind to her. She and her husband were forced
off sum for specific needs and/or regular grants. The requests all stem
to use their savings to relocate to a more suitable house – driven by Mr.
from the temporary or permanent financial hardship of individuals or
L’s serious heart condition and the steep hill, which approached their
their partners, who have years of service in the footwear industry -
old home. Just prior to moving to their new home, her husband
be this manufacturing, retailing or shoe repairing. Less usually,
required an urgent quadruple by-pass operation and, sadly, he died
requests for assistance are from people currently working in the sector
shortly before they moved to their new home. Mrs. L. had, to that point,
and who are experiencing difficulties.
been totally reliant on her husband to sort out their financial matters.
Applications for support come primarily from local social services
Now she had to organise the move, the funeral and associated financial
agencies and are validated by them, and the Inland Revenue where
matters, including pension change. Not surprisingly, she became most
necessary.
depressed. Mrs. L. has long been disabled with Arthritis and the loss of
Requests for help are in many forms - from the elderly widow
her husband increased her disability. She has also been diagnosed as
needing an inside toilet or heating installed, to aged single parents
suffering from Fibromyalgia. She is a devout Christian and her faith is
looking after a disadvantaged child or a retired destitute couple having
uplifting. Her son and daughter do not live in the area so her main
their first holiday for many years.
source of comfort is her Church and its activities which she visits 3 or 4
Footwear Friends has seen a change in needs over recent times, for
times a week. Her local bus service stops too far from her house, so she
example there is an increased demand for electric mobility vehicles;
frequently has to use a taxi.
and also for help where there is mental as well as physical
The provision of a suitable scooter would enable Mrs. L. to visit
deterioration. The Charity is also finding that there are more requests
friends, collect her pension, post letters and do all those small things,
from younger people finding it impossible to cope with life.
which she cannot do unless friends or her daughter visit her. Any help
Another increasing group that Footwear Friends receives requests
the FBS can give towards the cost of the scooter will be very much
from is from self-employed people - many from the shoe repair sector.
appreciated.”
Money to fund these activities comes from a number of sources
including corporate donations (major sponsors are listed on our
Mr. R.G. is 51, single and was a footwear operative for 18 years.
website -
www.footwearfriends.com ) from regular events where
This case was submitted to Footwear Friends by Leicester Charity
Footwear Friends is the charity of choice (IFRA, Drapers Footwear
Link who report:
Awards, Footwear Golf Society etc) and from one-off events organised
“Mr. G. was referred to us a little while ago by the hostel manager at the
by members of the Charity Committee or people in the trade. And from
address where he has lived for the past 12 months due to becoming
the Annual Designer Awards run by Footwear Friends.
homeless. He had worked in the Footwear trade for 18 years up until
The two main footwear livery companies - the Pattenmakers and
2008 when he was made redundant. Mr. G. had lived in a privately
the Cordwainers also make annual donations. Finally the Charity also
rented tenancy for 12 years prior to becoming homeless and had
relies on interest from investments (not a happy experience in recent
nowhere to go when the landlord told him he had to leave as he was
times) and on occasional bequests.
selling the property. He spent 18 days living rough on the streets before
Administration expenses are kept to a minimum with two part-time
being found a place at the hostel. His landlord disposed of all his
staff based in the offices of UKFT. All other work is done on a voluntary
belongings and furniture, as he had nowhere to store them. Mr. G. has
basis with much of the activity being handled by the Committee. This is
now been offered a Local Authority tenancy but has nothing to move
headed by Chairman Simon Goodman of the Florida Group, President
into it with and is in urgent need of the very basics. I would be most
Richard Kottler of the British Footwear Association, Financial Secretary
grateful if your Trustees could help with a grant of £ 400 that would
Robert Hollidge and other members from the Community Union, the
enable us to purchase him an electric cooker and a single bed so then
Livery Companies and companies across the industry.
at least he will have the very basic items needed to maintain the
Footwear Friends is a vibrant, energetic body aiming to maintain and
tenancy. Mr. G. worked all his life and from the moment he was made
increase its giving and is constantly looking at new ways of raising
redundant his life took a distinctive spiral downturn, which has
money to enable them to achieve this. They take pride in being an
unnerved him terribly. Any assistance your Trustees could render in this
integral part of the footwear industry and being seen as such. For
case would be very much appreciated.”
example at the recent Annual Designer Awards over 120 key people
from the trade attended in support of the Charity.
Footwear Friends were able to respond very positively to these
Footwear Friends plays an important role in helping the footwear
requests. However, they receive many of such deserving requests
trade fulfil its social responsibility and in directly helping both past and
each year.
present survive some intolerable situations.
28
•
FOOTWEAR TODAY
•
FEBRUARY 2010
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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