More than 140 Sandwell residents have benefitted from the Better Slippers pilot project.
Funded by Sandwell Council’s Public Health Team, the initiative has supported local people living with mobility issues, providing them with high-quality slippers that are comfortable, easy to wear, fitted with non-slip soles and designed to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.
The risk of falling increases with age, with around one in three people over 65 in the UK experiencing a fall each year. Falls remain the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people and can have a significant long-term impact on health and independence.
By providing safe, supportive slippers, the project aims to help reduce these risks – not only in the home, but when people are out and about.
Residents who received the slippers said they felt more stable and confident, which in turn improved mobility and encouraged greater physical activity.
The slippers have been distributed through local organisations including Age UK Sandwell, the Alzheimer’s Society, St Alban’s Community Centre, West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre, Warley Road Surgery and several other community groups across the borough.
Councillor Jackie Taylor, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Falls can have a devastating impact on people’s health and independence, but they are often preventable. This project is making a real difference by helping residents feel safer, steadier and more confident in their daily lives. It’s fantastic to see community groups across Sandwell coming together to support older people and those living with mobility issues.”
The council is currently exploring future funding and sponsorship opportunities to ensure the continuation of the scheme.