When Charities Collaborate, Communities Thrive

On April 16th, we were proud to welcome Dentaid’s mobile dental clinic to HARP’s Bradbury Day Centre in Southend, providing free emergency dental care and oral health advice to local people facing homelessness.

Dentaid, a UK charity known for delivering essential dental services to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and abuse, brought their fully equipped mobile dental unit to Southend as part of a wider initiative supported by Southend-on-Sea City Council. The clinic provided treatment including extractions, fillings, and oral hygiene guidance to individuals who often fall through the gaps in our healthcare system.

As Ria Wickham, Clinical Supervisor at Dentaid, explained:

“Many of the people we see haven’t had access to dental care for a long time. Their lives may be too chaotic to attend regular appointments, or they face discrimination that keeps them from accessing services. By bringing care directly to them, we remove those barriers.”

It’s thanks to volunteer professionals like associate dentist Tanvi Bagtharia and dental nurse Rebecca Robertson that this life-changing outreach is possible. Both joined the Southend clinic for the first time, bringing compassion and expertise to those who need it most. Their passion was matched by the efforts of Shane de Carteret, whose background in youth homelessness helped patients feel safe and supported.

This initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of organisations like the Straumann Group, which donated the van, and the many individuals who contribute time and resources to Dentaid’s mission.

At HARP, we support over 1,000 people every year as they take steps toward overcoming homelessness. For many of them, accessing basic healthcare — like dental treatment — is a serious challenge. That’s why partnerships like this are not only welcome but essential.

A Bigger Picture

This collaboration is a powerful example of how charities can — and should — work together to create meaningful, practical support for vulnerable communities. By pooling expertise, resources, and shared purpose, we can bridge critical gaps in service and restore dignity and health to those often left behind.

In a time where societal challenges feel increasingly complex, these partnerships remind us of something simple but powerful: when charities join forces, the impact multiplies.

🔗 Support Dentaid: www.dentaid.org