Get healthy in London

Crisis Summer School 5 - 29 July 2010

Explore new ideas, try something different. Crisis Summer School offers four-day intensive courses in creative and performing arts, and activities to stimulate your body, mind and spirit.

Whether you are a complete beginner, already have skills you wish to develop or are looking for a fresh challenge, the Summer School offers courses designed for you. Courses run from Monday until Thursday each week.

To enrol, just turn up on the Monday of the week your course starts. To avoid disappointment, turn up on time as places are limited on some courses.

Vision Care

Date: Monday 2-6 pm

Location: Basement Meeting Room

Come and use this free opticians service.

Volunteer opticians from Vision Care hold a weekly optician practice that operates within the London Crisis Centre.

More about Vision Care's aims and objectives.

The benefits of eye care

Everybody should have a routine eye examination every two years. An eye examination is not only a sight test to find out whether you need glasses, but it is also a health screening.

Eye tests can reveal health problems like diabetes

As well as testing for eye problems we can also detect high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Some people need more frequent eye examinations: for example people who are over 70, and anyone with a family history of glaucoma or diabetes, who should be seen every year.

Nearly everyone at some point will need glasses

Nearly every person at some point in their life will need glasses. Some people may need them all the time. Nearly everyone needs them as they get older because the lens inside the eye hardens and loses the ability to focus for reading. Most people over the age of 40 will need reading glasses.

Health of the eyes depends on many things including genetics, diet and lifestyle. Homeless people tend to have a poor diet, so often the immune system is compromised and they are much more prone to illness. Too much alcohol, tobacco or drugs can also damage the eyes.