16 | FOREVER Keele
KEELE STUDENTS ACHIEVE AMAZING THINGS
Physiotherapy students provide health and wellbeing support for local veterans
Physiotherapy students from Keele University ’ s School of Allied Health Professions have provided valuable health and wellbeing support for former servicemen and women who have been isolated as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Another group of three students also took part in a project to facilitate support calls for veterans to help alleviate the feeling of isolation . During the five-week placement , the students researched and developed appropriate health and wellbeing content for veterans , such as quizzes and wellbeing education on topics such as keeping active during lockdown , which they then delivered over the final two weeks of their placement . The calls were delivered via Facebook Portal which was set up in the homes of the veterans by the partner charities .
Since September 2020 , third-year physiotherapy students have undertaken two projects as part of their health and wellbeing placement , which involved working with local veterans in partnership with the Tri-Services and Veteran Support Centre and SSAFA , the Armed Forces charity . The projects were designed to help veterans , many who have been shielding due to Covid-19 , feel more connected to the community and their peers .
Five of the students supported a veterans ’ foodbank , which was set up by the charities to help veterans who were struggling because of the pandemic . The students helped to shape what was delivered to recipients by reviewing the contents of food parcels , providing the nutritional values , and creating recipe idea cards for what to make with the ingredients .