'The prison inmates are literally changing the lives of children and adults who would otherwise struggle to see,' said Leeds-based optometrist Kath Stott, trainer at Wealstun for VAO. 'But with them they can see to study or to earn a living. The inmates have responded magnificently.' Stacey Tasker, the governor at Wealstun, said: 'The rising demand to get involved means we have expanded the original team and are coping better with the volume of spectacles which come in to us. 'We don't charge a fee for the work but the prisoners are still volunteering because they genuinely see it as an opportunity to provide a valuable service. This is a positive side of prison life which isn't always appreciated outside.' Leeds Co-op optical manager, Dace Janney, commented: 'We're proud to be working with Wealstun inmates and will keep the collection boxes in place for as long as there are spectacles to collect.'
Inmates at a Yorkshire prison have responded 'magnificently' after an appeal for voluntary help by Vision Aid Overseas (VAO). So far over 3,000 spectacles collected by the Leeds Co-operative Society's optical, travel, food and pharmacy branches have been recycled by prisoners at Wealstun Prison, Wetherby. The spectacles are cleaned and repaired by inmates who have also been trained to use technical equipment which grades lenses for sorting according to their optical prescription, before they are sent to the Developing World.