Peterborough plea for volunteers to help improve early detection of kidney disease
A plea has been issued for more volunteers to join a local project aimed at improving awareness and early detection of kidney disease.
Community leaders, councillors, and Peterborough’s City Council Mayor are supporting a new recruitment drive to find volunteers who can help tackle kidney health inequalities across the city.
Kidney Research UK is seeking volunteers from Eastern European and South Asian communities to join a new local project.
The charity hosted an information stand at Queensgate Shopping Centre on World Kidney Day (Thursday 12 March), encouraging residents to learn about kidney health and find out how they could get involved.
More than 18,000 people in Peterborough are estimated to be living with kidney disease, yet awareness of the condition and its warning signs remains low. Kidney disease often develops without symptoms in its early stages, meaning many people do not realise there is a problem until significant damage has already occurred.
The project aims to address this by training volunteers, known as ‘peer educators’, who receive accredited training, to speak directly to their communities about kidney health, encouraging people to understand their risk and take simple steps to protect their kidneys.
Katarzyna Budzinska, peer educator manager at Kidney Research UK, said: “Peer educators can help break down barriers, share trusted information and encourage people to look after their kidney health. Current data tells us people from Eastern European and South Asian communities in Peterborough are particularly at risk. We would love to hear from people in those communities who want to volunteer their time and make a positive difference locally.”
Major of Peterborough cllr Judy Fox joined the shopping centre activity, welcomed the initiative and encouraged residents to get involved, saying: “Kidney disease affects thousands of people across Peterborough, often without them realising it. Projects like this are incredibly valuable because they bring specialist health information directly into our communities and help people understand the steps they can take to protect their health.”
Peterborough residents interested in becoming a peer educator or learning more about kidney health can find out more by visiting the Kidney Research UK website, contacting [email protected] or calling 0300 303 1100.