News / October 7, 2024

Calls for volunteers to provide oral healthcare in Northern Ireland

Dentaid The Dental Charity is seeking volunteers to provide dental care to people experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.

Dental treatment will be delivered through a new charity dental unit visiting hospitals and projects run by the The Simon Community in Coleraine, Armagh, Lisburn and Belfast. Dentist and dental nurse volunteers will provide check-ups, pain relieving treatments, emergency care and advice. This care will be available to people who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed.

The clinics will take place in the week of 11 November 2024 and March 10 2025. Dentaid is seeking dentists for clinics in Coleraine on 11 November, Lisburn on 12 November and Armagh on 13 November. Additionally, both dentists and nurses will be required for the March clinics.

Andy Evans is CEO of Dentaid The Dental Charity. He said: ‘We are delighted to be returning to Northern Ireland. These clinics are for people who face a huge number of emotional, physical and practical barriers to accessing dental care.

‘But we need volunteers to help us achieve this and would be incredibly grateful if dental professionals would consider donating their skills and time to help the most vulnerable members of their community access outreach dental care.’

Helping hard-to-reach communities

The project is supported by The Bupa Foundation and follows successful clinics provided last year to those supported by The Simon Community.

Penny Chapman, Bupa Dental Care area manager in Northern Ireland, added: ‘We’re proud to partner with two such important charities, Dentaid and The Simon Community NI, to help harder-to-reach communities in Northern Ireland get the dental care they need and deserve.

‘We’re currently planning a programme where our dental professionals will go out on the road every month to treat patients in need and help bridge the gap to improving oral health for those who need it.’

Volunteers can sign up at www.dentaid.org/volunteer-in-the-uk/.

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