IN AN EFFORT to provide accessible eye care within the local community, Specsavers Romford and Specsavers Dagenham Heathway held a clinic for people experiencing homelessness in Ilford.
The locally owned and run stores offered free eye tests and glasses this month at The Welcome Centre, Ilford. The clinic forms part of a monthly rotation of clinics supported by the Romford and Dagenham Heathway stores, hosted at The Salvation Army, Romford, and The Welcome Centre, Ilford, providing people experiencing homelessness a quieter environment to speak to a healthcare professional.
As part of a nationwide campaign for World Homeless Day, which took place on 10 October, more than 180 Specsavers stores and Home Visits businesses held out-of-hours or pop-up clinics and invited those affected by any form of homelessness to make use of their services.
The clinic hosted at The Welcome Centre welcomed eight members of the local community. Those who popped into the centre were offered a sight test and glasses.
This clinic was part of Specsavers’ wider homelessness programme to mark World Homeless Day by continuing to improve access to eye care for people experiencing homelessness or facing other barriers to care – whether financial, residential or not being eligible for NHS support.
Gajan Singh Seehra, senior optometrist at Specsavers Romford, says: ‘We were pleased to host a clinic to mark World Homeless Day, offering our services to people experiencing homelessness.
‘I wanted to say a big thanks to Sandeep Phull, dispensing optician at Specsavers Dagenham Heathway, who helped me out on the day and to The Welcome Centre who also helped make this possible. It is our long-term aim to ensure that everyone can access free, appropriate eye care which ultimately will help improve quality of life, which is why we run monthly clinics. Our next homeless clinic will be held at the Salvation Army Church in Romford on Monday 10 November from 10am to 12pm.
‘Specsavers as a business, and as a local team within the Romford and Dagenham communities, is committed to making healthcare accessible to everyone. I really hope that this helps raise awareness of the issue and the current barriers people are facing.’
The Welcome Centre supports people experiencing homelessness, destitution, or vulnerable housing. It offers information, advice, and guidance on homelessness-related issues, including welfare benefits, substance misuse, health/mental health, and overall well-being.
Ursula Standen, Welcome Project Co-ordinator at The Welcome Centre, says: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to be part of this initiative supporting people experiencing homelessness in East London. Access to something as simple as a free eye test or a new pair of glasses can make a big difference to someone’s daily life – improving confidence, wellbeing, and opportunities. It’s heartening to see local stores like Specsavers Romford and Specsavers Dagenham Heathway helping our community in such a practical and meaningful way.’
As well as running eye and ear care clinics across stores outside of World Homeless Day, Specsavers also collaborates with Crisis, Vision Care, Big Issue and other homelessness services to create long-term solutions to remove healthcare barriers.
Specsavers is also calling for changes to government policy to remove unnecessary barriers that make it difficult for people experiencing homelessness to access the eye and ear care they need. Long term plans include influencing policy and systems, so people affected have access to free ear checks, eye tests and glasses, and replacement glasses if broken, lost or stolen.
To find out more, visit specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/community/homelessness or contact Specsavers Romford at 01708 724475 or Specsavers Dagenham Heathway at 020 8596 9998.
