Specsavers Newbury partners with Newbury Soup Kitchen to deliver free eyecare to homeless

A Newbury optician has partnered with a local charity to deliver free eyecare to homeless people.

Specsavers Newbury has already held several eye clinics in its Northbrook Street store to give homeless people free eye exams and corrective lenses using frames donated to the charity.

The sessions have run every fortnight since March and the next clinic is planned for Tuesday, May 27.

Newbury Soup Kitchen founder and general manager Meryl Praill said: “Access to quality eye care is something many of us take for granted.

“But for people experiencing homelessness, it can be life changing.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Specsavers Newbury stores [the other is in Hectors Way] and its colleagues who have been volunteering to operate the clinics.

“These have not only improved their vision but helped restore their dignity and confidence.”

Homeless visit the Specsavers branch thanks to the soup kitchen’s outreach sessions every Tuesday and food provision sessions on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Specsavers Newbury director and optometrist Gary Alexander said: “Our support team had the pleasure of visiting the charity’s headquarters.

“It was a real privilege to meet its members and the charity’s outreach team, volunteers and staff, and we hope to continue to host the clinics for as long as we can.”

Newbury Soup Kitchen has an operational unit based at 1 Hambridge Lane but is looking to relocate to a fixed site.

It asks anyone who knows of a facility within walking distance from the town centre to contact enquire@newburysoupkitchen.org.uk or call Greenham Trust on (01635) 736740.