New board leadership at Vision Care

New board leadership at Vision Care, the eye care charity for people experiencing homelessness.

Experienced fundraising leader to drive ambitious growth as charity expands its impact

Vision Care has appointed Emma Low as Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective December 2025.

Emma takes over from founding trustee and Chair, Elaine Styles, as the charity builds on its recently launched three-year strategy to expand its impact and challenge systemic barriers to eye care. Elaine will be staying on at the charity as a trustee, continuing to inject her many years of optical knowledge and sector skills.  Emma will be supported by new Vice-Chair,  Paul Chapman-Hatchett.

Founded in 2003, Vision Care champions the right to sight for all people affected by homelessness. In the past year alone, the charity’s volunteer-led clinics provided 1,107 free sight tests and 1,399 pairs of glasses to people experiencing homelessness across the UK.

An experienced Trustee, Emma brings over 30 years of charity sector leadership including roles at Crisis, Asthma UK, Diabetes UK, Womankind Worldwide, Child Bereavement UK and Fight Bladder Cancer and now – as Director at Nova Fundraising, a specialist income generation and fundraising consultancy. A champion of smaller charities, Emma has built a track record in developing sustainable funding strategies and strengthening organisational governance.

As Vice-Chair, Paul has a wealth of experience in the optical sector, having founded a nationwide domiciliary optical franchise chain and also served on the board of the Association of Optometrists and co-chaired of the Domiciliary Eyecare committee. He currently acts as the clinical advisor for the Optical Consumer Complaints Service. Throughout his career, he has been committed to supporting society’s most vulnerable, ensuring they have access to the highest standard of eye care.

“Elaine Styles and Harinder Paul founded Vision Care with remarkable energy and determination,” said Emma Low. “As most recent chair, Elaine’s optical experience and leadership has been a true ‘north star’, and both Paul and I are determined to build on these strong foundations with equal ambition. The Board has elected us at a pivotal moment – as the charity strives to deliver on a bold strategy that will establish Vision Care as the leading authority on eye care for people experiencing homelessness.”

On stepping down as Chair Elaine said, “This feels like a natural moment to reflect on the journey of the organisation and the progress we have made together.  As one of the founders, I have had the privilege of seeing the charity grow from an idea driven by compassion into an organisation delivering meaningful impact to people experiencing homelessness. The work has been powered by hundreds of passionate, committed volunteers. Their professionalism, and belief in the cause sit at the very heart of Vision Care, and I am deeply grateful for everything they have given. We have built strong partnerships across the optical community and with charities across the homelessness services sector which have greatly enhanced our reach. I step aside with confidence in the charity’s future and look forward to seeing it continue to grow and thrive.”

Vision Care’s five-year strategy focuses on three aims: becoming the leading authority on eye care for people experiencing homelessness; removing barriers through policy influence and research; and facilitating direct delivery of eye care services.

Emma outlined her priorities: “Working with Paul we plan to galvanise the best possible team of trustees and leaders to deliver this ambitious strategy. My role is to ensure our CEO Hannah Telfer has the support, resources and governance framework to make this strategy become a reality – all eyes are on a future UK where no one is denied the right to sight because of their housing status.”

The charity is actively campaigning for changes to the General Ophthalmic Services contract to extend eligibility for free eye tests and glasses to people experiencing homelessness, and to make NHS services more flexible and responsive to their needs.

“I look forward to working with all our supporters, partners, volunteers and the optical organisations who make our work possible,” Emma added. “Together, we will ensure Vision Care has the impact and influence this vital cause deserves.”