Specsavers in Ashby is thanking customers for helping raise funds to support homeless people.

Research has revealed that more than half of people experiencing homelessness have unresolved issues with their vision, with a lack of permanent address often being the barrier to accessing eye care.

The store on Market Street has joined fellow Specsavers businesses throughout the UK to raise awareness and vital funds for Crisis' much needed work to end homelessness, through in-store and online donations, and staff volunteering.

Specsavers has become the first ever corporate sponsor of the Crisis at Christmas campaign.

Across the UK, Specsavers staff will help Crisis expand the range of health and wellbeing services it already provides in its Skylight centres across Great Britain.

Specsavers will run eye care clinics in five of Crisis' centres this Christmas, offering free eye tests and providing free glasses to people in need. Over the next year, Crisis and Specsavers will work together to further expand eye care services for people experiencing homelessness across the country.

Lucy Prew, Specsavers Ashby store manager said: 'Our purpose is to change lives through better sight, as well as hearing, as we know all too well the impact that uncorrected vision or undetected sight conditions can have on people's quality of life.

"The fact that so many people experiencing homelessness needs glasses, but struggle to access eye care is just something we can't ignore.

Image: Pixabay

'We are very proud to be supporting Crisis to help support its tremendous and much needed work, in particular the strides the charity is making to improve access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness."

Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, says: 'Homelessness has an extremely negative impact on people's health.

"But sadly, we regularly see many people suffering and finding it difficult to access health services because they fear stigma or are not easily able to register due to not having permanent addresses.

"So, we're delighted to partner with Specsavers, which will allow people we help to receive quality eye care in our Christmas centres."

Crisis works with thousands of people experiencing homelessness, providing education, training and support with housing, employment and health. Through its frontline services across Britain, the charity helps people find a path out of homelessness for good.

More than 227,000 people across Britain are currently experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, including sleeping on the streets and on public transport or in insecure and temporary accommodation like hostels and B&Bs.

Crisis believes the cost-of-living crisis is likely see this alarming figure increase further, with many more put at real risk of homelessness as financial pressures intensify.

Specsavers is also supporting the Big Issue Group as part of a broader campaign to break down the barriers that people experiencing poverty and homelessness face in receiving eyecare, as for many, a lack of permanent address prevents them from accessing NHS services.

As part of the Crisis at Christmas appeal customers have the option to donate via Specsavers' Just Giving page links placed in stores. All fundraising goes directly to Crisis.