Community
Specsavers is still very much a family run business with family values to match, and over the past few years, the company has donated more than £1 million to various charities. Recipients include Guide Dogs, Deafness Research UK, and Fight for Sight.
Vision Aid Overseas, for whom stores collect and recycle unwanted glasses to send to the developing world was given an additional boost last October. 450 Specsavers stores across the country collectively raised more than a quarter of a million pounds for the charity. It will go towards building the first VAO training facility and a brand new eye clinic in Zambia.
Every two years the company also nominates a national eyecare charity to support – their current relationship is with Diabetes UK for whom they have raised nearly £300,000 to fund vital research and raise awareness of diabetic retinopathy
Founders Doug and Mary Perkins have always acknowledged that
Specsavers Optical Group thrives on being based in Guernsey and how
much their local workforce has given them, and the company is renowned
for its support of the island community.
Specsavers' founder Mary Perkins, who was awarded the Rotary International Community and Vocational Service Award for her outstanding service to the local community, said: "We recognise that without the support of islanders, Specsavers wouldn't be the success it is today. We understand the value of corporate social responsibility, which is why we work hard to give something back. Many of the people we work with directly in the community are or become employees of the company." Over the past 10 years alone, Specsavers has contributed more than £1m to charitable causes.
After many years helping to raise thousands of pounds for Children on Need, Specsavers Optical group formed its own local charity - Specsavers Children's Charitable Foundation - to ensure that money raised for needy and disadvantaged children could remain within the Bailiwick. Every year we raise more than £20,000 for local causes, many of which are small, confidential donations to help support the children of single parents and those in financial distress.