Six months of eye care celebrated at VCHP Plymouth

Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP) has celebrated six months of providing eye care in Plymouth.

The Plymouth VCHP clinic opened in January 2025 and is located within the Shekinah Centre in Stonehouse Creek, an area with the highest level of homelessness in Devon.

The Shekinah Centre also houses a GP surgery, as well as support for education, housing and employment.

Since opening, VCHP Plymouth has dispensed almost 100 pairs of spectacles to local residents.

Optometry students at the University of Plymouth have volunteered at the clinic since its inception, Natasha Hudson, Plymouth clinic outreach coordinator with VCHP, told OT.

Optometry student, Tammie Loughlin, is the clinic manager at VCHP Plymouth.

“We have a cohort of students, helping and making use of the learning opportunities, working alongside the profession, who are happy to share their expertise while delivering the eyecare service,” Loughlin said.

VCHP

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth and Devonport, with Stephen Pratt, VCHP’s static clinic manager, and optometrist Stephen Lewis, during a visit to VCHP Plymouth

Glazing for the clinic is provided by Essilor in Caerphilly. Matthew Castle, Essilor’s site manager in Caerphilly, spoke about the importance of VCHP’s work in Plymouth.

“Powers from -11.5D and -13.00 with significant astigmatisms are jobs that have come through, and we understand that some of these high Rx patients have not had a sight test for several years and come in with very scratched and damaged specs,” Castle said.

He added: “It is great to be involved with VCHP. We pride ourselves on being just as much a local as a national business, and in providing optimum eyesight across the world. Long may our collaboration continue.”

Lead image: The team at VCHP Plymouth: Stephen Pratt, VCHP static clinic manager; Stephen Lewis, optometrist; Hamza Ghani, Plymouth University optometry student; Sarah Serle, and Miriam Lee.