Team members at Specsavers Morningside, together with local businesses from the area and neighbouring Bruntsfield, are joining forces to support people experiencing homelessness through a special out-of-hours clinic on Monday, 13 October 2025.
The initiative, led by Michael O’Kane, Director of Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll, brings together a strong network of local partners, each contributing to make the event a true community collaboration.
Support has come from across the local areas, with donations and services from St James Management, Houseproud, Waitrose, Toys Galore, JoJo Maman Bébé, 181 Deli, and a local barber, among others.
Together, they are helping to provide food, essential winter clothing, baby clothes for families and haircuts, alongside free eye and ear care services.
A team of seven colleagues from the Morningside store, located at 85 Morningside Road, will host an eye and ear care clinic offering sight tests, OCT scans, glasses, hearing tests, and ear wax removals – all provided outside of normal business hours.
The clinic, organised to tie into World Homeless Day (10th October 2025), will run between 6–8pm, offering a calm, welcoming environment for people experiencing homelessness to access care and connect with the local community.
Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll stores are partnering with Social Bite, Streetwork at Simon Community Scotland and The Bethany Christian Trust, inviting anyone affected by homelessness to attend the clinic and access the support available.
This event forms part of Specsavers’ wider homelessness programme, reinforcing the company’s commitment to breaking down barriers to healthcare.
The Edinburgh stores are proud to mark World Homeless Day by taking a holistic approach – improving access to eye and ear care while also ensuring attendees can enjoy a meal, receive essential winter clothing, and access other wellbeing services in one supportive setting.
Michael O’Kane, clinical director at Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll stores, says:
‘Our ambition is to ensure that everyone experiencing homelessness can access free, appropriate eye and hearing care.
‘By helping people achieve better sight and hearing, we hope to improve their quality of life and unfortunately, we know that for many, this is not the case because it can be incredibly difficult for them to access to this care.
‘By holding an out-of-hours clinic around World Homeless Day and working closely with a number of generous businesses in the local area, we are aiming to make expert care accessible to our community whilst raising awareness of the barriers currently in place.’
One in three people who experience homelessness need glasses, and for many, accessing healthcare can be extremely difficult. This clinic is one of many being held across the UK, providing essential services to those who might otherwise go without.
Alongside its local work, Specsavers continues to collaborate nationally with organisations such as Crisis, Vision Care for Homeless People, and The Big Issue to develop long-term solutions that remove healthcare barriers for those most in need.
The company is also calling for policy changes to ensure that everyone experiencing homelessness can access free eye tests, hearing checks, and replacement glasses where needed.
Anyone who wishes to attend the clinic at Specsavers Morningside can request an appointment by calling 0131 446 9960 or emailing: customer.morningside.uk@specsavers.com.
The post Edinburgh Businesses Unite as Specsavers Runs Evening Clinic for People Facing Homelessness appeared first on Edinburgh Magazine – Positive Local News in Edinburgh, Scotland.
