We were delighted to celebrate the official launch of our very first clinic in Scotland on the 25th June at the new Specsavers-sponsored Wellness Floor at Edinburgh Crisis.
The Edinburgh eye clinic is set to offer free eyecare services to people affected by homelessness in the city. It will operate from two fully equipped clinic testing and dispensing rooms, based in the Crisis Wellness Centre alongside additional health and wellbeing services including hairdressing, massage, podiatry and outreach services from partners such as NHS sexual health and vaccines.
As well as being the first clinic in Scotland, the facility will be VCHP’s 10th static clinic. VCHP founder and chair of trustees Elaine Styles, was thrilled to open the clinic with Specsavers and Crisis. “It’s a true testament to what our long-term partnership with Crisis and Specsavers is achieving.”
Our launch event saw people from partner agencies, other supporters in the optical industry and representatives from third sector agencies who will be looking to signpost their clients to our services – plus some of the volunteers who will be welcoming and testing our future patients.
The evening was a great opportunity to showcase what is a top class health care resource that will help reduce the health inequalities faced people by people experiencing homelessness in the city. Those attending the launch heard from representatives of Crisis, VCHP and Specsavers, were invited to view the clinic rooms and celebrate and network with others.
This flagship project was made possible by sponsorship from Specsavers who stepped in to finance the completion of the floor on behalf of Crisis and to fund the set up of the eye clinic. The three organisations have been working closely together over a number of months, working on the set up. The launch was a real celebration of what can be achieved through collaboration.
The clinic set up has also been supported by Frost Optical Services, Thomson Software Solutions, Boots Opticians, ABDO College and Bondeye Optical. Optimum RXLens Specialists will provide the lenses and glazing for the clinic and it was great to be able to thank them in person at the launch event.
The clinic is set begin to see patients from the end of July. Clinic sessions will be run on Mondays, with the possibility of opening additional sessions as demand builds. The team are looking to recruit some additional volunteer help. To find out more about volunteering visit our volunteering vacancies pages here: VOLUNTEERING FOR VCHP – Vision Care (visioncarecharity.org)
Picture credits: Sandy Young
