Leather craft charity score with footwear project providing shoes for those in need

TRADITIONAL shoemakers have stepped in to deliver much-needed footwear for deprived youngsters.

Body and Sole is the brainchild of the Incorporation of Cordiners in Glasgow.

The Cordiners was originally a group of craftspeople in Glasgow that made shoewear and other leather goods, and can be traced back to the 16th Century.

Since launching a pilot project last year, the Cordiners have gifted hundreds of pairs of sports shoes and hiking boots to school children who otherwise couldn’t participate in sports and Duke of Edinburgh Award activities.

Recently, they kitted out a football team of refugees and asylum seekers from ESOL English classes at Glasgow’s St Aloysius’ Church with football boots.

Deacon of the Incorporation of Cordiners, Ewan Macdonald said: “A lack of basic equipment such as appropriate shoewear is a barrier to participation that is often overlooked.”