From donating Christmas boxes and oral health packs to hosting integrated healthcare pop-ups, Smile Together colleagues have pulled out all the stops to make a difference to those most in need across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. All whilst delivering their much-valued patient care.
Having supported Cornwall Health for Homeless with their integrated healthcare pop-ups in locations right across the county, the 2023 partnership programme culminated in a festive pop-up hosted in their Harleigh Road Dental Centre in Bodmin, multiple surgeries allowing for a host of healthcare provision including dental check-ups and urgent treatment.
Alongside dental, everyone attending could access a range of services from health checks and liver screening from Healthy Cornwall and confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health through We Are With You charity, through to support for those in temporary accommodation, and hair and beauty services from Iconic Cornwall.
Alison Cane, outreach manager at Smile Together, said, “We frequently collaborate with other healthcare professionals, especially through our dedicated Outreach team, and these pop-up events in particular make such a difference to vulnerable people. Generous colleagues from right across our company made up Christmas gift boxes for those attending on the day which included oral health products, hats, gloves, handwarmers, books, clean underwear, baby wipes and sanitary products for ladies, amongst other items”.
In addition, Smile Together colleagues contributed enough food items for seven Christmas dinners in a box, donated to Newquay DISC for 2023’s Cornwall Christmas Box appeal for local families in need.
The annual Smiles at Sea tour, which sees Smile Together providing free dental treatment to fishermen and dependent family members, successfully concluded at Plymouth harbourside on December 14, 2023, having visited eight locations over 10 days seeing well over 100 patients, many of whom hadn’t seen a dentist for a number of years. Another integrated healthcare initiative funded by Seafarer’s Hospital Society and Smile Together and delivered in partnership with The Fishermen’s Mission as part of their national SeaFit service, including their partner network of healthcare providers.
In the run-up to Christmas, Smile Together colleagues set themselves an ambitious goal to have donated a total of 10,000 oral health packs to Foodbanks, homelessness and other charities best positioned to reach those families and individuals most in need across the county.
Tracy Wilson, head of marketing and communications for Smile Together, said, “We were already at an amazing 7,500 packs donated so we’ve collectively made up the additional 2,500 family and individual packs, including with help from Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, and donated them – a mammoth undertaking but those receiving the packs were, as always, so grateful. We added our donation photos to our Smiles for Christmas advent calendar countdown on social media which has proved such an uplifting and engaging way to shine a light on each charities’ valuable work alongside our own extraordinary contribution in local communities”.