A charity volunteer has moved into a paid job as an eye clinic liaison officer (ECLO) thanks to sponsorship from Specsavers.
Helen McGrath has been helped by the Harrogate practice to train as an ECLO with Vision Support.
The role helps bridge the gap between health and social care professionals and people with sight loss, providing information and emotional support.
Two million people live with sight loss
More than 2 million people in the UK live with some degree of sight loss and over 340,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted. Yet Harrogate was one of the last areas in the UK without access to an NHS-funded ECLO.
Helen (pictured above, second from left, with the team from Harrogate Specsavers) began volunteering at Vision Support as a peer support and telephone befriender after two strokes left her registered blind.
I was told I would never work again
“When I lost my sight, I was told I would never work again. Thanks to the team at Vision Support, and Specsavers Harrogate’s generous sponsorship, I’ve been able to prove them wrong,” she says.
“I’m now in a position where I can provide essential support to others on their sight loss journey, helping feel less isolated and encouraging them to live their lives to the fullest.”
ECLOs train via RNIB’s Eye Clinic Studies course, accredited by City University, London.
Andy Bryer, retail director at Specsavers Harrogate, says: “We understand how important Vision Support’s work is for individuals with visual impairments in the surrounding area, helping them access resources they need to regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.
Connecting people and professionals
“It’s been a privilege to provide them with funding that enables connections between the community and dedicated professionals such as Helen, ensuring they receive the services they need to be independent.
“It’s been wonderful to watch Helen progress in her role and make a meaningful difference to those living with sight loss.”
- Follow a day in the life of ECLO Mark Chapman
- Find out more about the ECLO role from the RNIB