ABDO clinical director visits homeless clinic

Max Halford (far right) with the volunteers

ABDO clinical and policy director, Max Halford, recently visited the Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP) clinic at the Shekinah Centre in Plymouth to hear about their vital support work.

VCHP is a registered charity that provides sight tests and spectacles to people experiencing homelessness, ensuring access to essential eyecare regardless of NHS eligibility. A team of volunteers carry out sight testing and dispensing.

Shekinah supports people to rebuild their lives, offering help with needs from housing, physical and mental wellbeing to training and personal development. Access to eyecare is a crucial part of their mission, helping people to engage fully in education, work, and daily life.

The Plymouth service is led by optometrist Stephen Lewis, supported by administrator and optical consultant, Tammie Loughlin (pictured with Max).

They were recently joined by two new student registrant volunteers – Jodie Glanville, who is currently on the ABDO dispensing optician apprenticeship programme, and student optometrist Jellah Njie (also pictured).

However, the are keen to enlist the support of additional registrant and non-registrant support to help make a bigger difference to the services they offer.

Max Halford commented: “These services are absolutely vital for people who often cannot, or will not, access High Street practices for eyecare. It’s inspiring to see VCHP and Shekinah working together, along with a dedicated team of eyecare volunteers, to provide care for homeless people in Plymouth. 

“VCHP is a national charity doing incredible work, and I would encourage any dispensing optician to get involved and support their local clinic. The opportunity in the future for extended services contact lens opticians [ESCLOs] to support acute eyecare for the clinic is very exciting and groundbreaking and is something that ABDO will be supporting.”

Stephen added: “We are working to get a minor eye conditions service [MECS] up and running as part of our clinic and it will be a great experience for ESCLOs and optometrists in the area, as well as supporting the patients we care for. 

“We believe this might be the first VCHP clinic that will be able to offer this service – so are very proud of what we have been able to achieve so far.”

If you could help out in any of the VCHP clinics, visit VHCP volunteers. For Plymouth, contact optometrist Stephen Lewis.