Scotland’s first Kidney Research UK disease awareness scheme is to be launched in Glasgow, targeting ethnic minority communities and other ‘at risk’ groups.

The scheme begins in April and it hoped the Glasgow model will then be extended across Scotland.

More than 700 people in Scotland need a kidney transplant, and more than 4,000, including 80 aged under 20, are on dialysis.

The Glasgow scheme has been made possible by nearly £44,000 raised by 950 staff at the Kwik Fit Insurance offices in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

Kidney Research UK will use the money to recruit and train lay members of ‘at-risk’ communities to use their cultural and language experience to teach people how to prevent kidney disease.

Neerja Jain, the charity’s peer educator research manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this project to Scotland, thanks to the generosity of Kwik Fit staff.

“We have had similar projects in England, in which we go out to at-risk communities, mainly black and Asian communities, but also to anyone who has a family history of kidney disease, anyone who has diabetes or high blood pressure – they are all at risk of kidney disease.

“It will utilise the skills and experiences of local people. We train them to talk about healthy lifestyles, health promotion, and how to prevent kidney and heart disease.

“The peer education model has been tremendously successful in our other projects.

“There is a real need to address kidney health issues in Scotland.”

Across the UK, some three million people are under threat from chronic kidney disease.

The press conference was held in the Mr Singh’s India restaurant, near Charing Cross. Its owner, Bobby Singh, is on dialysis and is waiting for a kidney transplant.

Five years have passed since he fell ill and was told his kidneys had “packed up”.

Mr Singh said: “Being on dialysis is very, very hard but you have to stay positive. I have managed to just get on with it.

“I am on the transplant list. Fingers crossed it will come, and it will be the best day of my life.”

Brendan Devine, group managing director at Kwik Fit Financial Services, praised the staff for raising so much money.