Volunteer dentists to provide free treatment for the homeless in Southampton
Volunteer dentists are set to provide free treatment for homeless people in Southampton as part of a partnership involving Dentaid, Street Support and the Above Bar Church.
A mobile Dentaid unit will be visiting the city on Thursday 23rd January to provide dental care free of charge. The charity is working with Above Bar Church and Street Support to improve access to basic services for those who don’t have a roof over their heads.
Above Bar Church runs a weekly breakfast, which provides hot food for up to 100 people on Above Bar Street. The church is part of a network of local churches, which offer to provide shelter for rough sleepers as part of a daily rota. The rota is run by Street Support and involves finding shelter for those without homes using a different church every night in the winter. The programme, in addition to the dental clinics and breakfast clubs, is part of a wider commitment to end homelessness in Southampton. Last year, more than 30 organisations supported the Southampton Rough Sleeping and Begging Charter, which aims to ensure the city is a place where nobody is forced to sleep rough or beg for money.
The Dentaid mobile clinic will be stationed at Above Bar Church on the 23rd January, and a team of volunteers will be on hand to provide a range of free services. Naomi Roche, from the charity, explained that it can be incredibly challenging for those who don’t have a permanent address to access dental care. Clinics like the one scheduled for the 23rd make a massive difference to homeless people, who are prone to dental health issues and tooth pain and infections.
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