Meet Specsavers’ community champions

Cardiff locals Karen Andrews and Ella Bailey are passionate about their roles as community champions, organising in-store events such as raffles and bake sales to raise money for local charities as well as coordinating larger fundraising events. Karen, who has worked at Specsavers for over 30 years, is the community champion for the Albany Road store, while Ella has worked at the Llanishen store for one year.

Raising over £1,000 for local causes

This year the community champions, along with the store teams, have continued to find exciting ways to raise vital funds for charitable causes.

Staff members at both Specsavers Albany Road and Llanishen have embraced their creative talents to support various cancer charities close to their hearts, including national breast cancer charity, CoppaFeel. Sajda Aminullah from the Albany Road store took time out of her busy schedule to create crocheted boob and ribbon keyrings, which were sold in-store to raise £308, which will help the charity continue raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

The Llanishen team held a bake and create event for Maggie’s, a free cancer care and support centre in Cardiff. Through the sale of items such as homemade cushions, tealight holders and cakes they raised over £300.

At the end of September, the Albany Road team participated in City Hospice’s Sparkle Walk, a 10km sponsored nighttime walk. The exciting event saw the team dress up in their sparkliest outfits to walk all the way from Insole Court in Llandaff to City Hospice in Whitchurch and back. The event gave participants the opportunity to remember their loved ones by hanging a ribbon with their names at a brief stop halfway through the walk at City Hospice. The team’s efforts helped raise £185 for the Cardiff-based charity, which provides medical and nursing care for patients facing life-limiting illnesses, including end-of-life care, and supports their families.

Over the years, both stores have supported many local clubs too. Most recently, the Albany Road store provided sponsorship for a local tennis club. The store donated £900 to Mackintosh Sports Club, a non-profit organisation run by just 12 volunteers and four trustees.

As we approach the festive season, both stores will support Boomerang, a Cardiff-based charity tackling poverty, social isolation and homelessness, by collecting gifts to help create a magical Christmas for less fortunate children. Specsavers Albany Road and Llanishen, along with the other stores in Cardiff and Penarth, will act as collection points for the charity until Sunday, 15 December, encouraging locals to donate new items that can be package and sent out during the Christmas period.

To view upcoming events, take a look at the store’s community boards during your next visit. If you’re a charity or community group that would benefit from support, please speak to the community champions or email jodie.morgan@specsavers.com.

For more information about Specsavers in Albany Road and Llanishen, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores. Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visit service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.