20,000 pairs of unwanted specs sent overseas

The team at the Sutton-in-Ashfield Specsavers, in Idlewells Shopping Centre, has been gathering old, unwanted pairs of glasses from customers throughout the year, which have been donated to Vision Aid Overseas (VAO), a charity dedicated to fighting poverty by transforming access to eye care in developing countries.

Store manager, Nigel Davidson, said: “Through the donation of old glasses, we are helping to provide access to eyecare for people who may not otherwise have access to it. Such a simple thing can transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest people, helping in everything from school to work.

“The charity works tirelessly to ensure this need is met, and customer donations are vital to their success.”

Alongside the collections for VAO, the store also collects specs to donate to the Ashanti development charity in Ghana, as well as sending cases to Romania through the charity, Smiles Project.

The team is encouraging people to continue to give their old glasses for all of the causes hey support by dropping them off in store.