Store partners from Specsavers stores across Northern Ireland recently came together with accommodation managers and partners at Simon Community to celebrate a successful first year of eye testing clinics for people experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Since June 2024, thirteen clinics have been set up by optometrists in the towns and communities within which they operate, at local Simon Community services.
In that time, 70 people who had struggled to gain access to healthcare for their eyes have benefitted from the service. 52 people received a prescription from their local Specsavers store, and will continue to receive follow up tests, repairs and checkups for as long as they need it.
Matthew McKenny, store partner and ophthalmic director at Specsavers Belfast Park Centre has helped make the initiative a success, undertaking the first trial clinic in 2023, before carrying out a further clinic at Simon Community’s Conway Court accommodation services, which provides dedicated support for families experiencing homelessness.
Matthew commented, ‘Working with Simon Community to deliver the clinics within the local services in our area has been one of the most eye opening, rewarding and humbling experiences of my career. Alongside my team, we have met some incredible people, from the managers of the Simon Community services to the people who haven’t had access to eye care for many years.
‘Specsavers purpose is to change lives through better sight by making expert care accessible to all, which is exactly what we are doing with these clinics. Breaking down the barriers which stand between people experiencing homelessness and access to eye care, and to celebrate a successful first year, while planning an even bigger second year, is fantastic. Homelessness in Northern Ireland is still misunderstood, it is so much bigger problem than any of us realised, and it really could happen to any of us. We’re very proud to be there for even more people in our local community who need our care and expert services.’
At one of Specsavers Belfast Park Centre’s first clinics, which facilitated tests for residents from the Falls Road and Cliftonville Avenue accommodation services, 15 people attended an eye test, with 14 people needing a prescription and glasses.
Frances Black, accommodation manager at the Saintfield Road Simon Community service said, ‘The boost in morale the day the glasses were delivered for everyone was a joy. We didn’t recognise anyone! More than that, the Specsavers team helped us to give our service users a little more confidence to seek help and know that they have access to eye healthcare now thanks to our partnership with Specsavers. It has boosted their self-esteem and given them the courage to walk into a Specsavers store knowing they will be treated the same as any other customer in the store, no questions asked. It has become an invaluable partnership for us.’
The clinics are part of a UK-wide initiative by Specsavers to improve access to eye care for all and remove healthcare barriers, especially to people who are disadvantaged, including people experiencing homelessness, who often live with a higher level of eye problems yet often can’t access the care they need.
At the celebration event at the Belfast Foyer, Specsavers NI Chair, Darryl Marshall from Specsavers Abbey Centre met with Kirsten Hewitt, director of services at Simon Community (pictured), who spoke of the importance and impact of the partnership over the past year.
Kirsten added, ‘We were delighted to host the Specsavers team at our Belfast Foyer recently, further communicating the impact of their services from each of our accommodation managers who could share insights to the confidence and morale that has been boosted throughout their sites thanks to the clinics.’
Darryl Marshall finished, ‘We are incredibly proud of the difference our clinics have made and as we set our sights on a second year of delivering and developing the initiative further, we will bring even more stores on-board, engage even more of our local experts with Simon Community accommodation services in their towns, and continue our support with fundraising activities, keeping our mission to make eyecare accessible for all as our driving force.’
To find out more, visit specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/community/homelessness.