Supporting Organisations
Society of Shoe Fitters
There is no legal obligation to know anything about feet or footwear to sell shoes, but there is a moral obligation! The Society of Shoe Fitters was started in 1959 to raise standards of shoe fitting, footwear and foot health, to teach retail staff to fit footwear correctly and to help the public in finding shoes to fit. They have continued to do so over the past 50+ years, which is quite an achievement as they are 'not-for-profit', run by volunteers and receive no government funding. Their Shoe Fitting Courses are available to all and fund the good work of the Society, together with membership fees, and the help of Associate Members who are shoe companies that respect the need for qualified shoe fitting staff. The SSF provide an informative website, foot health leaflets and free help line.
The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Independent Footwear Retailers Association
IFRA provides an individual forum for those whose main professional activity is the retailing of footwear. Because we share many common problems - and opportunities - we are able as a group (not as individual traders) to find relevant answers and to assist each other in such areas as improving relations with our suppliers and relations with our staff, Members of the public can obtain information on hard to find footwear on our website
The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) is the UK professional body and represents Prosthetists and Orthotists in all aspects of their work. BAPO initiates and informs dialogue with patients groups, the NHS, Department of Health, prosthetic and orthotic manufacturers and colleague Allied Health Professional groups, to ensure continued improvements to patient services and to improve the lives for those that we care for.
Aims of the Guide
- Help people to recognise the key features of footwear that will most likely offer a healthy and comfortable fit
- Encourage companies to manufacture shoes with these key features
- Encourage companies to join the Healthy Footwear Guide and actively promote footwear with these key features
- Help people find shoe stores that can advise on the correct fit of this footwear
- Offer advice to people who cannot get to a shoe store on the key fitting properties to look for when trying Healthy Footwear Guide recommended footwear