The Governance RegisterEdition 2026 · Compiled 12th July 2026

The Benevolent Fund of the College of Optometrists & the Association of Optometrists

Registered charity 1003699 Registered since 1991

Operates: Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

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Board DNA

How this board is put together, from Charity Commission trustee records and Companies House - deterministic, no AI.

10
trustees on the board
7y median 8y
average tenure
10y
longest tenure
6
trustees past 6 years
6.4y
average years in governance
2 vs 0 portfolio
first-time trustees
0
company-linked trustees

Sector coverage

Disability 10General Charitable Purposes 10The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives 10

Gaps to watch

  • No commercial or business experience on the board
  • Several long-serving trustees could step down together
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Related organisations

Boards that overlap with this one through shared trustees, or govern in the same field. Deterministic, from public records.

Contact

Websitewww.opticalbenfund.com
Emailadmin@opticalbenfund.com
Phone01787223800
Address55 Colchester Road, White Colne, Colchester, CO6 2PW

Finances

£107,802 latest income

YearIncomeSpending
2021£362,546£33,565
2022£149,582£43,135
2023£176,203£44,575
2024£128,393£60,078
2025£107,802£52,599

What it does

What

General Charitable PurposesThe Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of LivesDisabilityThe Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who

Elderly/old PeoplePeople With DisabilitiesOther Defined Groups

How

Makes Grants To IndividualsProvides Advocacy/advice/information

Charitable objects

2. The object of the Charity is to afford assistance by application of the income of the Fund (as defined in Rule 3.1(b) and all or such part or parts of the capital at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may in their absolute discretion think fit to or for the benefit of all or any:2.1 Necessitous members and former members (of any class) of the College of Optometrists (or formerly of the British College of Optometrists or the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians) and their dependants;2.2 former members and associate members of the British Optical Association and their dependants;2.3 members and former members of the Association of Optometrists (or formerly the Association of Optical Practitioners) and their dependants;2.4 fellows by examination of the Scottish Association of Opticians or the WorshipfulCompany of Spectacle Makers and their dependants; or2.5 other members and former members of the optometry profession, or ophthalmic optical profession as it was formerly known, and their dependants.2.6 Undergraduate optometry students registered with the General Optical council.2.7 Other optometry students as the trustees may in their absolute discretion see fit to support.

Governing document: RULES ADOPTED 15 APRIL 1981 AS AMENDED 8 MAY 1993, 10 MAY 1995 AND 31 DECEMBER 1999, 28 MARCH 2003 AND 11 DECEMBER 2006.AS AMENDED BY SCHEME DATED 01 AUG 2018 as amended on 11 Apr 2025

Trustees (10)

10trustees
0aged 70+

Connected charities (1)

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