Community

According to research, pets are good for us. Stroking dogs and cats or even watching fish swimming in their tank can help with anxiety and stress and lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Taking your dog for regular walks can provide you with a daily exercise routine.

Regular dog walks can provide you with a daily exercise routine

Dogs, cats and other furry friends can provide a therapeutic boost for people. Sharing your home with a pet helps decrease feelings of loneliness while caring for another creature that depends on you, can also lend a sense of purpose, helping to reduce anxiety and depression.

Spending time with or petting a dog or cat increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, which promotes an overall sense of well-being. Petting or playing with an animal also increases the production of endorphins and promotes a feeling of relaxation, which can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety and even reduce pain.

Stroking a cat can promote a sense of well-being

Many animals will shower their owners with love and affection. Experiencing such unconditional love from a pet, when you may be feeling low, can be extremely beneficial.

Studies also indicate that pet owners require fewer visits to the doctor. Research carried out at Cambridge University found that owning a pet can improve our general health in less than a month, with pet owners reporting fewer minor ailments such as headaches, coughs and colds.

The health and social benefits are clear with some health professionals prescribing the adoption of a pet to combat depression, loneliness, inactivity and stress.

Researcher Dr Zhiqiang Feng says: ‘It is well known that pet ownership may help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression in older people, but one area that has received little attention is the effect of dog ownership on the physical activity levels of the elderly.

‘Our results show that dog ownership is associated with an increased level of physical activity in the over-65s. On average, older dog owners were 12 per cent more active than their counterparts who did not own a dog.’

The health benefits of spending time with animals have become so well known that many hospitals and other rehabilitative centres have adopted pet therapy programs. Universities even work with therapy animals from organisations such as Pets As Therapy, our charity of the year, to help combat stress and anxiety amongst the students during exam time.

Click here to find out more about our amazing charity of the year, Pets As Therapy.

Having swollen feet shouldn’t mean having to compromise on style. We have a collection of gorgeous shoes to help you look and feel your best, whatever the occasion!

Eye-catching comfort

Koryl

This is a flattering, feminine shoe. The beautiful fabrics combined with a smooth, grained leather-look strap and button detail bring a touch of glamour to any outfit. 

Give your outfit a lift

Hettie

A perfect party shoe, this stylish heel is stable and supportive. With super-soft linings, a seam-free toe and underfoot cushioning, it’s also exceptionally comfy.

Understated elegance

Carmen

There’s more to this dressy shoe than meets the eye! The decorative button disguises a touch-fastening strap that peels back to expose a stretchy gusset.

The height of comfort

Zara

Fashion meets function in this ultimate, comfort court shoe. The heel is stable and supportive and it has a soft, cushioned footbed so you can celebrate in comfort as well as style.

Walk your way to better health

Walking is one of the easiest ways to be more active. Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.

You don't have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

Cosyfeet’s Stanley shoe is 100% waterproof and is ideal for walking

A joint report by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support in 2012 concluded that walking could transform people's health by decreasing the odds of heart problems and stroke as well as making a difference in conditions such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and many cancers.

In some cases, walking can be more effective than running. Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California found that brisk walking reduces the risk of heart disease more effectively than running. They observed participants aged between 18 and 80 over a six-year period and found that walking reduced the risk of heart disease by 9.3%, while running reduced it by 4.5%.

And there's even more good news: 30 minutes of brisk walking over five days could help you sleep better, according to research by Oregon State University. Their study showed that walking helped participants sleep better and feel more alert during the day.

Regular walking can also help you to:

• Burn calories and increase your metabolism
• Improve your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation
• Improve your mood and help you feel brighter
• Encourage you to discover new things in your area and feel more connected to your community

Look after your back

From 8th – 12th October it’s Back Care Awareness Week. Organised by the charity BackCare, the aim of the week is to raise the awareness of good back care. This year’s theme is ‘Back Pain in Older Adults.’

Did you know that back pain is one of the major disabling health conditions among older adults aged 60 years and older? Many causes of lower back pain are age-related with physical and psychosocial changes. There is a distinct lack of awareness, especially in older adults to the causes and effects of back pain and pain management.

Existing evidence suggests that prevalence rates of severe and chronic low back pain increase with older age. As compared to working-age adults, older adults are more likely to develop lower back pain like osteoporotic vertebral fractures, tumours, spinal infection and lumbar spinal stenosis.

Based on advice from the NHS, here are our top 10 tips for a healthier back:

• 1. Always bend your knees and hips, not your back.
• 2. Walking and swimming are great ways to strengthen your back muscles.
• 3. Never twist and bend at the same time.
• 4. Lift and carry objects close to your body.
• 5. Carry larger loads in a rucksack and avoid sling bags. Try using a back-friendly bag such as a Healthy Back Bag.

Healthy Back Bags are designed to protect your back, neck & shoulders

• 6. Avoid slumping in your chair, hunching over a desk or walking with your shoulders hunched. Sit with your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
• 7. Stop smoking. It's thought that smoking reduces the blood supply to the discs between your vertebrae which may lead to their degeneration.
• 8. Lose any excess weight.
• 9. Choose a mattress that’s suited to your height, weight, age and sleeping position.
• 10. Ensure your footwear has enough support. Look for shoes with shock-absorbing soles and avoid wearing ballet flats or flip flops for long periods of time.

Click here to view our range of Back Comfort products.

To celebrate National Wool Week, we’re giving you the chance to win a pair of our Purewool™ Frieda or Bjorn slippers. To enter our competition, simply read the article below and answer two questions at the end, via the online form. The competition ends at 11.59pm on Wednesday 31st October 2018.

The first person to be randomly selected from the correct entries will win the prize. We will contact the winner to ask which slippers and size they require. Terms and conditions apply – please see below. *

Introducing our 100% pure wool footwear!

Wool is a wonderful fibre with some amazing benefits and is an excellent alternative to leather. Naturally warm, soft and stretchy, it gently moulds to your feet for an ultra-comfy fit. It’s breathable, odour-resistant and wicks away moisture so your feet stay healthy, fresh and dry. With natural climate control so you can wear it all year round, it’s also great for sensitive skin as it’s hypoallergenic.

For women, our Purewool™ range includes Katarina shoes and Frieda and Anna slippers and for men, we have our Bjorn slippers.

The benefits of wearing wool:

• Feels soft and comfortable next to the skin
• Helps feet stay warm in winter and cool in summer due to its natural climate control
• Feet stay healthy and dry as wool is breathable and wicks moisture away from the skin
• Forms to your feet for a comfy fit thanks to the natural elasticity which allows the fabric to gently stretch
• Ideal for sensitive skin as it’s hypoallergenic
• Feet stay fresh as it’s odour-resistant and resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew
• Hardwearing as wool is naturally durable
• Naturally renewable resource as each year sheep produce a fleece

Good luck!

*Terms and Conditions
To be in with the chance of winning a pair of Frieda or Bjorn slippers, simply read the article above and answer the two questions at the end, via the form. The competition ends at 11.59pm on Wednesday 31st October 2018. One prize available. One entry per person. The winner will be contacted by email and asked for their choice of slippers and size. Women’s Frieda is available in size 4 - 9 (no half sizes) and men’s Bjorn is available in size 7 – 12 (no half sizes). Prize cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative. Prize can only be sent to a UK address. We reserve the right to withdraw this competition at any time.

Every year, Cosyfeet offers an award of £750 to two not-for-profit organisations (one national, one in Somerset), who are working on projects within the UK that support and enrich the lives of older people.

West Faversham Community Centre is the proud winner of this year’s Cosyfeet Community Project Award. The £750 award will fund the purchase of three Samsung Galaxy tablets, which local teenagers will use to teach older people how to communicate online. The aim of the project is to reduce the loneliness and isolation that older members of the community can experience by teaching them to use email and social media to stay connected. Local teenagers are keen to help by volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Tom (16) shows retired local resident Chris how to use a tablet

Street Men’s Shed is this year’s winner of the Cosyfeet Community Project Award for Somerset. The shed provides a meeting place for men to meet, communicate and create using the tools and equipment provided. Members use the Men’s Shed facilities for a diverse range of projects including making furniture and fencing as well as restoring objects such as grandfather clocks, vintage radios and fishing rods. There are currently 54 members, most of whom are men aged over 65, although membership is open to all. The £750 award will be used to purchase much-needed equipment such as a metal working lathe as well as other tools and materials.

Street Men’s Shed members at a Tuesday morning meeting. Left to right: Graham, Brian, Stuart, Richard, Phillipe, Trevor, Mike, Richard, Steve, Tim, Dave, Harry, David, Alf

We’re raising money to help fund the important work that Pets As Therapy do to provide companionship and therapy to those in need. Find out what they’ve been up to recently.

Pets As Therapy is our chosen charity of the year. We’re raising money to help fund the important work that their volunteers and pets do to provide comfort, companionship and therapy to those in need. This is what they have been up to recently:

Raising awareness with dog walks

Pets As Therapy volunteers and members of the public alike attended one of four planned fun and informative dog walks across the nation. The emphasis of each walk was to raise awareness of the wonderful work that PAT does by engaging with locals at each venue and encouraging them to join team PAT as a volunteer.

Whilst the weather was not favourable at each location, everyone involved enjoyed themselves and PAT coordinator Matthew Robinson is encouraged by the number of perspective applicants that showed interest in joining.

Pets As Therapy outside Orvis

PAT dog attends conference for young people with Dystonia

A representative for the Dystonia Society recently contacted PAT as they were hosting a conference on Saturday 22nd September for young people affected by Dystonia and wanted a PAT volunteer team to attend. PAT were only too pleased to help in the form of volunteer Jonny and his English Toy Terrier ‘Milo’.

The event was held at a venue on Holloway Road in London and was both for children affected by the condition and their siblings. Jonny commented after the event saying that it was very inspiring!

Toy Terrier ‘Milo’ with the Dystonia Society

Click here to find out more about our charity of the year.

Take advantage of our fantastic offer today! Buy any 3 packs from our selected socks collection and get the cheapest pack for free! Offer ends Friday 21st December 2018. Terms and conditions apply.* 

To take advantage of this great ‘3 for 2’ offer, simply add any 3 packs of socks from our selection to your basket and enter the code CFS3F2 when prompted. The discount for the cheapest pack/s will be automatically applied to the order. Offer only applies to in-stock items.

*Terms and Conditions
To redeem this ‘3 for 2’ sock offer, add at least 3 packs of socks to your basket from our selection and enter the code CFS3F2 when prompted. The discount for the cheapest pack/s will be automatically applied to the order. Click here to view the selected sock styles. If purchasing multiple items, then the cheapest items will be free. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. If you are returning items for a refund, all items must be returned to qualify. This offer expires at 11.59pm on Friday 21st December 2018. Offer only applies to items that are in-stock. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer only applies to the following socks: EW, WR, RY, FQ, FN, TH, ET, BY, BX, AU, AQ, SMF, OB, OH, BS, EB.

Cooler evenings, darker nights and cosy night-clothes are some of the reasons why autumn should be one of the best seasons to get a good night’s sleep, However, according to research, one in five of us still aren’t getting the rest we need.

Improve your sleep this autumn

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. But how can we ensure that we get enough? Here are some simple tips which may help:

1. Try, as much as possible, to have a regular bedtime as this helps to set your internal body clock.

2. Create a restful sleeping environment. Your bedroom should be neither too hot, nor too cold; and as quiet and dark as possible.

3. Create a good sleep environment by removing TV’s and technical devices from your bedroom.

4. Make sure your bed is comfortable. It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep if it’s too soft, too hard, too small or too old.

5. Try to relax before going to bed with a warm bath. Adding a few drops of lavender oil to the water may help you sleep better. Spraying your pillow or bedding with a slumber mist can also help you to relax and unwind at bedtime.

Spray a few drops on your pillow at bedtime

6. Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day’s stresses and strains. But not too close to bedtime as it may keep you awake.

7. Avoid caffeine in tea, coffee or cola in the evening. It interferes with falling asleep and prevents deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.

A hot milky drink or herbal tea can help you to relax

8. Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, can play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night.

9. Try wearing bed socks. According to Swiss researchers, you are more likely to fall asleep quickly if your feet and hands are warm.

Keeping your feet warm can help you fall asleep

10. If you can’t sleep, don’t lie there worrying about it. Get up and do something you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again - then go back to bed.

For a limited time only, get free delivery (UK standard) worth £4.99 when you spend £60 or more. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, add any product/s worth £60 or more to your basket and enter the offer code CFSEPFP when prompted. Free delivery (UK standard) will be applied to the order. Terms and conditions apply.* 

*Terms and Conditions
To redeem our free delivery (UK standard) and returns offer, simply add any items worth £60 or more to your basket and enter the code CFSEPFP when prompted. Free delivery (UK standard) will be applied to the order. This offer expires at 11.59pm on Tuesday 2nd October 2018. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer available on in-stock items only and if all items are in stock. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. 
If you are not 100% satisfied with a product, for any reason, at any time, you can return it to us for free (within the UK) for an immediate exchange or refund of the cost of the product.