Plan something for National Eye Health Week 2016 now!

Posted on by dispensingdigest

NATIONAL EYE HEALTH WEEK    (NEHW) 

19th – 25th September 2016

 

NEHWlogo

National Eye Health Week provides a unique opportunity for your practice to come together across the local community as well as nationwide in order to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye examinations and to spread the word about how vision matters.

I encourage you to reach out to your local community and inspire people to think about their eye health.

During the week, each day focuses on a different theme, which includes:

  • Monday : General eye health
  • Tuesday: Children’s eye health
  • Wednesday: Diabetic retinopathy
  • Thursday: Sight after 60
  • Fr-eye-day: Fundraising day
  • Saturday: Nutrition and the eye
  • Sunday: Smoking and sight loss

 David Cartwright who is the chair of NEHW explains that by focusing on a different daily theme, it gives more opportunity to communicate and reach out to those groups who would benefit most from regular eye examinations.

4  Steps to Success  

STEP 1 :  PLAN THE CAMPAIGN

  • Plan in advance, setting objectives of the campaign, and target audiences.

OBJECTIVES:

  • Raise public awareness of the importance of eyecare
  • To promote special offers available during eyecare week
  • TARGET AUDIENCE – KID’S & OVER 60’S
  • Autumn Equinox falls on 22/9/16 – great opportunity to promote the benefits of UV damage. Resources available on the website http://www.visionmatters.org.uk

STEP 2 :  HOW TO TAKE PART

  • If you didn’t register for a free resource pack, containing leaflets, posters, promotional materials and template press releases, please visit http://www.visionmatters.org.uk/electronicresources where you will find a whole host of fabulous resources to download.

STEP 3 :  DECIDING WHAT TO DO

Social Media activity will be massive during this week. Make sure you benefit by ‘liking’ and ‘tweeting!’ Follow these twitter accounts and they’ll be plenty of news to re-tweet. The official hashtag when tweeting during the week is #eyeweek

@NHSEnglandMidE

@Bham_Vision

@myvisionmatters

@dispense_digest (that’s me!)

There is always a BIG media campaign in national newspapers and TV. You can ‘piggy back’ on top of these with local advertising in newspapers, local radio or you can just display the poster.

Other ideas you can try:

  • Direct mail letters
  • Suppliers promotions
  • Window display
  • Competitions
  • Open days
  • Fashion shows
  • Kids fun days
  • Prize draws
  • Colouring competitions
  • Offer Free Transitions or free pairs just for this week
  • Vision screening events
  • Coffee mornings
  • Cake Sales to raise money for the EyecareTrust
  • Offer spectacle cleaning and servicing
  • Hold contact lens comfort /dry eye workshops or demonstrations
  • Write to your MP and get them to visit your practice
  • Visit schools for talks or assemblies.

STEP 4:  ASSESS THE SUCCESS

  • The NEHW campaign aims to reach people in their everyday lives and encourage them to look after their eyes.
  • Did the campaign meet the objectives you set? If not, why not.
  • A good way to assess if newspaper ads work is to attach coupons or vouchers to cut out and bring in or phone for details.
  • Please do your best to support this campaign and promote the importance of eye health because vision really matters.

If you are running any event or activity during NEHW don’t forget to register it on www.visionmatters.org.uk so that it can be promoted for you.

Wishing you the best of luck with your NEHW eye health promotion.

Published on Simone Mason’s NEW BLOG www.dispensingdigest.wordpress.com

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