NI man experiencing homelessness on how getting an eye test has given him confidence

A man from Northern Ireland who has been experiencing homelessness for over a year has opened up on how an eye test has given him more confidence.

Declan, 47, is a Simon Community client and attended a local Specsavers clinic as part of a UK-wide initiative to improve access to eye care for all and remove healthcare barriers.

He said he feels privileged to have gained access to this community healthcare for a person in his situation - but that it should be a basic right.

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Of his experience at the clinics and the impact they have had on his life, Declan said: "I have been experiencing homelessness for over a year now, but through Simon Community, I have gained better access to community healthcare such as eye tests with Specsavers. I didn’t realise I had a problem with my sight even though I had a slight flutter in my eyes, but after having a sight test, it was confirmed I am shortsighted, and I now wear glasses for both reading and for distance.

"This has had a really positive impact in my daily life already – I can read signage better and understand forms better, which has given me a little more confidence, but best of all, I can read the local papers which my father sends me, allowing us to catch up on local news together. This has strengthened our relationship, which wouldn’t have happened without the help from Specsavers."

Clinical colleagues from Specsavers have been volunteering at Simon Community sites across Northern Ireland to deliver eye tests and dispense glasses to people experiencing homelessness. The clinics, which are free of charge for Simon Community clients to attend, have been running since May 2024.

To mark Homelessness Awareness Week (December 2-8), Specsavers shared that 83% of those who have attended a clinic in the past seven months have been living with diminished eyesight and have been prescribed lenses and frames.

The initiative was trialled in early 2024, and since then, the clinics have since been operating monthly with different Specsavers stores at various regional Simon Community hub locations across Northern Ireland.

Matthew McKenny, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Park Centre which delivered Northern Ireland’s pilot clinic, found that out of the 12 clients that had an eye test, 11 people received prescription lenses and frames.

Matthew commented: "We are very proud to have had an integral role in getting these clinics off the ground in Northern Ireland, alongside our regional relationship manager, John McGuinness. It has been a hugely worthwhile piece of work, and we are delighted to see so many other clinics lined up with other regional Specsavers stores and the Simon Community hubs across Northern Ireland.

"We have met some fantastic people who just happen to have been affected by homelessness, and their health is suffering the consequences of that. Every Specsavers store in Northern Ireland is locally owned and run and we are committed to all within our communities. I know I speak on behalf of every store partner in our region when I say we are humbled to be able to remove this barrier to healthcare for those in our community experiencing homelessness and help with their eye care.’

Reflecting on the positive impacts of the clinics, Frances Black, Accommodation Manager at the Saintfield Road Simon Community hub said: “The visits from the Specsavers teams in our hubs have had a profoundly positive impact on our clients. By bringing this service to our sites, we alleviated the potential stigma clients might feel about visiting an eye care facility, especially when they may lack the funds to purchase glasses.

“The presence of support staff made the experience less daunting, particularly for those who had never had an eye test before. Providing glasses for clients who needed them significantly boosted their confidence, as they no longer have to struggle with impaired vision.”

Kirsten Hewitt, Director of Homelessness Services at Simon Community, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Specsavers to deliver an eye-care clinic at each of our temporary accommodation services in Northern Ireland. When experiencing homelessness, maintaining your physical health often becomes a lower priority.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Specsavers – through their support and expertise, we are breaking down barriers to accessing basic health care for individuals impacted by homelessness.”

In addition to bringing local healthcare expertise to Simon Community hubs, Specsavers will also support Simon Community NI’s annual Carols at St Anne’s Cathedral event this week (Wednesday 4 December), enabling even more clients, supporters and friends of the organisation to come together to experience hope at what can be a difficult time of the year.

Specsavers is also collaborating with Vision Care for Homeless People, The Big Issue, Focus Ireland, Crisis and other homelessness organisations to create long-term solutions to eye health inequality. Work includes lobbying and influencing government to ensure people experiencing homelessness have access to free eye tests, glasses and domiciliary services.

To find out more, visit specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/community/homelessness

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