Vision Care for Homeless People in fundraising drive for new Plymouth clinic

Vision Care of Homeless People (VCHP) is hoping to raise £3000 for a new clinic in Plymouth.

The clinic will be manned by volunteers and based in the Shekinah Mission, which operates a day centre in the Stonehouse Creek area of the city.

It is expected to operate once a week when established, offering free sight tests and glasses and referrals where needed.

The new clinic will be located in rooms shared with a GP practice, a nurse service, and drug and alcohol services.

Spaces will be equipped for use as testing and dispensing rooms during clinics, compliant with NHS requirements, VCHP said.

A team effort

Funds raised will cover additional costs that are required to set up the clinic, aside from the sourcing of IT equipment, furnishings, personal protective equipment, and smaller optical appliances.

VCHP is encouraging members of the optometry community to make a donation via its appeal page, or to set up a fundraising event.

A football fundraiser between the Plymouth University Optometry and Pakistani societies kicked off the appeal by contributing over £200.

Community need

VCHP noted that Plymouth had 885 people recorded as homeless in 2023, and 11,301 people on the social housing waiting list.

There is a ‘real need’ for a clinic in the city so that people affected by homelessness can get the care they need, VCHP said.

“Based on our knowledge from research and [from] our other clinics, we expect that many of the patients we will help will have a higher level of eye problems than the general population and are unlikely to go to a High Street optician to get an eye test and glasses,” Elaine Styles, the charity’s chair, shared.

The Shekinah Mission already welcomes people who are sleeping rough, providing facilities including showers and a clothing store.

Those affected by homelessness can also have breakfast or lunch at the centre, and can also utilise health and advice services. Training and life skills programmes are also available in the afternoons.

VCHP currently has ten clinics in operation, including a newly opened clinic at Crisis Skylight in Edinburgh.

The Plymouth clinic will continue the charity’s mission to expand to 24 clinics within the next five years.

VCHP urged those who want to discuss fundraising ideas or find out more about the Plymouth clinic to contact Alison Gordon, the charity’s community and corporate fundraiser, via email.