Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 15 hours ago
Mobile Dental Unit to Deliver Care to Rough Sleepers and Other Vulnerable Groups
The first initiative will deploy an eco-conscious mobile unit to treat more than 850 hard-to-reach people in its first year, organisers said.
Dentaid, The Dental Charity, and the affordable dental care provider launched a £1 million fund to support charitable organisations assisting underserved communities, including those recovering from addiction or experiencing extreme poverty.
A study of 2,000 adults, according to OnePoll, revealed four in 10 Brits were unaware of challenges faced by vulnerable groups including women at risk and survivors of abuse when accessing dental care.
Foundation's first initiative, an eco-conscious mobile dental unit, will launch in October and serve more than 850 hardest-to-reach community members in its first year through volunteer dentists and dental nurses.
Alongside this, the fund creates opportunities for aspiring professionals through a dental scholarship scheme supporting BDS qualifications and apprenticeships helping dental nurses become hygienists and therapists.
Nilesh Pandya, chief executive officer of the affordable dental care provider, said the initiative aims to help people "who might otherwise go without care" while providing mentoring and development opportunities across dentistry.