Newry optician scales Europa in support of Simon Community NI

Kerri was part of an adventurous trio, which included two other store partners and ophthalmic directors from Specsavers in Northern Ireland; Katie Gillen from Specsavers Downpatrick and Paula Cunningham from Specsavers Connswater.

Specsavers has been supporting Simon Community since 2023, building their support of the charity in the past year to include accessible eye test clinics at Simon Community shelters and hubs across Northern Ireland, carried out by experts from Specsavers stores in the local area.

Speaking of her challenge, Kerri commented, ‘It was a fantastic experience to abseil down the Europa Hotel and give ourselves a challenge, and we’re delighted it is all in aid of a charity that makes a huge difference to people experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.

‘Specsavers exists to make expert care accessible to everyone, which has been a huge driving force behind our partnership with Simon Community. Unfortunately, for the several thousand people experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland, access to this care can be difficult but our work with the charity is cutting through those barriers and helping those who need us most in our communities.’

Since June 2024, expert clinics have been operating monthly with 70 people receiving eye tests so far. 52 people who were tested needed glasses, which were dispensed by their local Specsavers store free of charge.

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