New outreach dental care initiative launches in Eastbourne
Dentaid The Dental Charity has teamed up with charity partners on a new initiative to provide dental care to some of the most vulnerable people living in Eastbourne.
Our mobile dental unit visited the town on Friday 22nd August in support of people experiencing homelessness, harm caused by substance use, and those in recovery in the town.
The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust (EKCT) and T
he Homity Trust provided funding for the clinic, held at the Eastbourne Citadel, run by the Salvation Army, in Langney Road. Another clinic is scheduled for the same location in October.
Meanwhile, a further four visits to the town have been agreed between August and January 2026 as part of a partnership with Eastbourne Borough Council.
Dentaid’s work sees volunteer dentists and dental nurses travel to places where vulnerable people are known to case workers and feel safe, such as soup kitchens, hostels and community centres. They carry out treatments to prevent infection and ease discomfort, allowing many who may not have accessed dental services for years on end to experience lives free of toothache and other oral health problems.
The Eastbourne services are run out of Dentaid’s Kent hub, which provides dental care and offers advice in under-served communities across South East England.
The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust and The Homity Trust both provide funding to charitable causes working across Sussex.
The groups supported by the EKCT range from those benefitting the disabled, the elderly and hospices, to wildlife and environmental and conservation projects across the UK.
Meanwhile the Homity Trust provides funding for a range of community groups and projects in and around Brighton, helping to improve beneficiaries’ quality of life and social inclusion.
Jill Harding, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Dentaid said: “We have been looking to reach people in need in Eastbourne for some time now and know just how invaluable a service like this can be for those who are struggling to access even the basics in life.
“By taking a multi-level approach we can ensure that people facing hardship have their needs met in a safe and welcoming environment, where they feel confident they can have their voices heard. That’s hugely important as many of our clients come in feeling nervous of dentists but come out a lot more confident and assured.
“We are grateful to work alongside the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, The Homity Trust and Eastbourne Borough Council to bring our services to those in real need.”
Sally Case, director of the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, added: “The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust is pleased to support this dental care initiative for vulnerable people.
“Dentaid are providing a vital service, which is often overlooked for people experiencing rough sleeping and homelessness.”
Richard Pigott, manager of The Homity Trust, said: “We are proud to help support the great outreach work of Dentaid in this overlooked need locally and have seen their brilliant work first hand at a recent site visit.
“Their mobile units are just like visiting a more formal regular dentist surgery but much more convenient and welcoming to those in need”.
Dentaid has volunteering opportunities available across the South East for dentists and dental nurses. Anyone who would like to join us on our charity mobile dental clinics can apply at https://www.dentaid.org/volunteering-opportunities-in-the-uk/.