Eye Health for All: Our pilot project has ended

Eye Health for All: Our pilot project has ended

Over the past 15 months, our Eye Health for All pilot project helped us take an important step towards improving eye health awareness in Black African and Caribbean communities across the UK. An independent evaluation found that the project successfully raised awareness of glaucoma, helped people take action to protect their sight, and built valuable relationships with community organisations and local people.

The programme reached more than 2,000 people through 97 community events across Belfast, Cardiff, Croydon, Glasgow and Manchester, working alongside 52 partner organisations. Through radio, television and media campaigns, the project's messages also reached an estimated 8.5 million people.

One of the most encouraging findings was the increase in understanding about glaucoma risk. Many people who attended events learnt for the first time that glaucoma can run in families, often develops without noticeable symptoms, and that people of Black African and Caribbean heritage are at higher risk of developing the condition. Participants consistently described leaving events feeling informed, empowered and more confident about looking after their eye health.

The evaluation also highlighted examples where awareness led to action. Some attendees went on to book eye tests because of conversations they had with Glaucoma UK staff, with several cases leading to the identification and treatment of previously undiagnosed eye conditions. These stories demonstrate the potential impact of bringing eye health information directly into trusted community settings.

A key strength of the programme was its community-first approach. Events held in churches, community centres, cultural gatherings and wellbeing events created opportunities for relaxed, meaningful conversations. The evaluation found that people were more likely to engage when information was delivered by approachable staff in familiar spaces, supported by practical tools and clear advice about next steps.

The project also helped more people connect with Glaucoma UK's wider support services. Calls to the charity's helpline from the five pilot cities increased significantly during the project period, suggesting that more people became aware of the support available to them and their families.

As with any pilot programme, the evaluation identified opportunities to strengthen future delivery. Collecting more consistent data will help us better understand the long-term impact of community engagement, while finding new ways to engage groups that were sometimes harder to reach, including men, younger adults and those with limited English, could further extend the project's impact. The report also highlighted the value of continuing to deepen community partnerships and exploring more opportunities to create direct pathways from awareness to eye testing.

Perhaps the most important achievement of Phase 1 is that it established something new: a proven foundation for community eye health outreach. The evaluation concluded that the combination of trusted partnerships, community presence, clear information and practical support has strong potential to make a lasting difference.

Glaucoma UK will now use the learning from this evaluation, alongside user feedback and staff experiences from Phase 1, to help shape future planning. Importantly, the relationships, trust and community connections developed during the pilot provide an opportunity to move towards a community development approach in the next phase of the programme.

The findings from this evaluation will also be shared with community members, creating space for reflection, discussion and learning. Combining their lived experience with the practical knowledge gained by staff will ensure future activity is formed by the communities it aims to serve.

This article was originally published in our membership magazine, Insight. To receive the magazine quarterly, consider becoming a Glaucoma UK member.