LNER charitable fund donates to VCHP

LNER charitable fund donates to VCHP

Vision Care for Homeless People has been awarded £12,000 from LNER’s Customer and Community Investment Fund (CCIF). This considerable contribution will be used to support the continued delivery of the volunteer run opticians’ services provided to homeless people in Leeds.

Homeless people are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to obtaining sight tests, glasses and eye care. They face many barriers to access; one is that only a third of homeless people are eligible for free NHS eye test and glasses at High Street opticians. The volunteer optometrists, dispensing opticians and clinic assistants run an eye care service for homeless people within St. George`s Crypt Centre in Leeds. The service includes free of charge eye examinations, glasses when needed, and a referral to secondary care, if required.

In a fully equipped clinic room and welcoming environment, clients who cannot access High Street opticians receive the full eyecare they need free of charge from VCHP.

General Manager of VCHP, David Brown said – “This grant is very pleasing – to be recognised from 400 applications really says something. We know there is considerable need for the work that we do in the Leeds area. The money will enable us to help even more people.”

David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “We are proud to support Vision Care for Homeless People in this new round of LNER Customer and Community Investment funding, helping the charity to make a difference to people’s lives. Our communities along the East Coast route are very important to us. We continue to support many great charities and groups through our Customer and Community Investment Fund as part of LNER’s commitment to being a responsible business.”