Pre-loved glasses collected at hotels across the UK to support rural African communities

Valor Hospitality has handed over 2,500 pairs of pre-loved glasses to the impactful charity, Specs for Africa, after a major drive to collect donations at hotels across Valor’s UK portfolio.

The donation, which was presented to the charity at the Valor-managed Holiday Inn Coventry, will now be sent to rural African communities, giving people greater access to education and employment in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Malawi.

Established in 2022 by Peter and Anne Corder, Specs for Africa is a volunteer-led project that works to improve sight and transform lives by collecting and recycling pre-loved specs and sunglasses.

Most of the donated reading specs and sunglasses will be put to use in specialist eye clinics and in communities across Africa. To minimise waste, lenses with strong, individual prescriptions that the charity is unable to use are passed on to UK charity Lions Recycling, which has been recycling used eyewear for 35 years.  

The donation is the second to be made by Valor Hospitality following a collection at Holiday Inn Eastleigh last year, which saw 2,000 pairs gifted to Specs for Africa.

Valor’s continued support for the charity has been spearheaded by the company’s UK President, Brian McCarthy, and strengthens Valor’s cross-continent ties between the UK and Africa. The global business has a portfolio of over 20 hospitality projects in 10 African countries, and is set for further expansion throughout the continent.

Brian McCarthy, Valor Hospitality’s UK President, commented: “Access to clear vision is something many of us take for granted, but for countless people in rural African communities, it’s a barrier to education, employment, and a better quality of life. Specs for Africa’s vision is so important, and this partnership not only empowers communities across the continent but also strengthens the vital ties between the UK and Africa. Thank you to everyone who donated at hotels across the UK; we are continuing our call out for donations in the hope we can make a third donation in the near future.”

Peter and Anne Corder, founders of Specs for Africa, added: “This amazing donation will make a huge difference to the daily lives of people in Africa who would otherwise have simply had to accept their worsening eyesight. We are hugely grateful to the Valor Hospitality team for supporting us.”

Valor Hospitality is a leading global hotel management company, which manages a diverse collection of 40 hotels in the UK, including well-known brands and independent properties. Globally, Valor manages almost 100 hotels across 65 cities and 16 countries.

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