08 October 2025
Vision Care for Homeless People has unveiled a new brand identity, Vision Care, and a set of three strategic aims as it seeks to broaden its focus and reach.
Vision Care revealed its new look to mark World Sight Day on 9 October and World Homelessness Day on 10 October.
The charity, which was founded in 2003, emphasised that it champions the right to sight for all people affected by homelessness, providing free and essential eye care through clinics across the UK.
In the past year, the charity’s clinics have provided 1107 free sight tests and 1399 pairs of glasses to people experiencing homelessness.
The organisation is also working to remove barriers through advocacy, education, and research.
Hannah Telfer, CEO of Vision Care, said: “Our new identity as Vision Care reflects both continuity and change. Our mission remains grounded in providing direct eye care services, but we are now broadening our focus to challenge the systemic barriers that deny people the right to sight.”
“With a stronger, clearer identity, we can expand our reach, influence change, and ensure no-one is left behind because of their housing status,” Telfer added.
With a stronger, clearer identity, we can expand our reach, influence change, and ensure no-one is left behind because of their housing status
Vision Care is preparing to launch a new five-year strategy around three aims, the first being to become the leading authority on eye care for people experiencing homelessness.
Secondly, the charity is working to remove barriers to eye care for people experiencing homelessness by influencing policy and research, and thirdly, Vision Care is working to facilitate direct delivery of eye care services.
With this week (6–12 October) encompassing World Sight Day and World Homelessness Day, Vision Care is hosting a series of events and awareness-raising activities including welcoming members of parliament into clinics.
Vision Care is also calling for changes to the General Ophthalmic Services contract to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access the eye care they need without unnecessary barriers.
The three key policy changes outlined by Vision Care include: eligibility for free eye tests and glasses to be extended to include people experiencing homelessness, for people to be eligible to receive an NHS domiciliary service when attending a day centre or when staying in a shelter or hostel without the need for a pre-visit notification, and to be eligible to receive free replacement NHS glasses if their current pair is broken, lost or stolen due to their homelessness.
The charity suggested: “These changes would make eye care more flexible, responsive, and truly accessible for one of the most marginalised groups in society – helping to prevent avoidable sight loss and improve wellbeing.”
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