01 Identity
Registration and reporting
- Registration status
- Registered
- Reporting status
- Submission Received
- Charity type
- Other
- Registered
- 12 December 2012
- Removed
- Not supplied
- Financial period
- 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
- Latest income
- £12,176,749
- Latest expenditure
- £13,110,337
- Gift Aid
- No
- Owns or uses land
- Yes
- In administration
- No
- Insolvent
- No
- CIO
- No
Public contact address: General Optical Council, Part Floor 29, 1 Canada Square, LONDON, E14 5AA
Website recorded by the regulator: www.optical.org (displayed as text)
02 Activities
What the charity does
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our statutory role is to protect and promote the health and safety of members of the public by promoting high standards of professional education, conduct and performance among our registrants. We currently register around 26,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.
03 Official extract
Charity Annual Return History
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2025
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Reporting Due Date
- 31 January 2026
- Date Annual Return Received
- 21 January 2026
- Date Accounts Received
- 21 January 2026
- Total Gross Income
- £12,176,749
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £13,110,337
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2024
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Reporting Due Date
- 31 January 2025
- Date Annual Return Received
- 23 January 2025
- Date Accounts Received
- 23 January 2025
- Total Gross Income
- £11,227,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £11,971,000
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2023
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Reporting Due Date
- 31 January 2024
- Date Annual Return Received
- 19 January 2024
- Date Accounts Received
- 19 January 2024
- Total Gross Income
- £10,340,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £10,538,000
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2022
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Reporting Due Date
- 31 January 2023
- Date Annual Return Received
- 3 January 2023
- Date Accounts Received
- 3 January 2023
- Total Gross Income
- £10,037,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £9,493,000
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2021
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Reporting Due Date
- 31 January 2022
- Date Annual Return Received
- 13 January 2022
- Date Accounts Received
- 13 January 2022
- Total Gross Income
- £11,681,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £8,593,000
04 Official extract
Charity Annual Return Parta
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- Yes
- Fin Period Order Number
- 1
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2025
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2026
- Ar Received Date
- 21 January 2026
- Total Gross Income
- £12,176,749
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £13,110,337
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £0
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- No
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- Yes
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- Yes
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- Yes
- Count Salary Band 60001 70000
- 7
- Count Salary Band 70001 80000
- 6
- Count Salary Band 80001 90000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 90001 100000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 100001 110000
- 4
- Count Salary Band 110001 120000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 120001 130000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 130001 140000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 140001 150000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 150001 200000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 200001 250000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 250001 300000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 300001 350000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 350001 400000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 400001 450000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 450001 500000
- 0
- Count Salary Band Over 500000
- 0
- Count Volunteers
- 0
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 2
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2024
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2025
- Ar Received Date
- 23 January 2025
- Total Gross Income
- £11,227,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £11,971,000
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £0
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- No
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- Yes
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- Yes
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- Yes
- Count Salary Band 60001 70000
- 11
- Count Salary Band 70001 80000
- 2
- Count Salary Band 80001 90000
- 0
- Count Salary Band 90001 100000
- 3
- Count Salary Band 100001 110000
- 2
- Count Salary Band 110001 120000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 130001 140000
- 1
- Count Volunteers
- 0
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 3
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2023
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2024
- Ar Received Date
- 19 January 2024
- Total Gross Income
- £10,340,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £10,538,000
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £0
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- No
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- Yes
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- Yes
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- Yes
- Count Salary Band 60001 70000
- 5
- Count Salary Band 70001 80000
- 4
- Count Salary Band 80001 90000
- 2
- Count Salary Band 100001 110000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 130001 140000
- 1
- Count Volunteers
- 0
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 4
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2022
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2023
- Ar Received Date
- 3 January 2023
- Total Gross Income
- £10,037,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £9,493,000
- Charity Raises Funds From Public
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
- No
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- No
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- Yes
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- Yes
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- Yes
- Count Salary Band 60001 70000
- 5
- Count Salary Band 70001 80000
- 3
- Count Salary Band 80001 90000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 90001 100000
- 2
- Count Salary Band 130001 140000
- 1
- Count Volunteers
- 0
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 5
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2021
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2022
- Ar Received Date
- 13 January 2022
- Total Gross Income
- £11,681,000
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £8,593,000
- Charity Raises Funds From Public
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
- No
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- No
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- Yes
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- Yes
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- Yes
- Count Salary Band 60001 70000
- 5
- Count Salary Band 70001 80000
- 3
- Count Salary Band 90001 100000
- 1
- Count Salary Band 130001 140000
- 1
- Count Volunteers
- 0
05 Official extract
Charity Annual Return Partb
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- Yes
- Fin Period Order Number
- 1
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2025
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2026
- Ar Received Date
- 21 January 2026
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 0
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 0
- Income Charitable Activities
- 11698946
- Income Investments
- 477803
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 12176749
- Income Legacies
- 0
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £48,337
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £13,062,000
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 13110337
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 48337
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 801000
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 4382000
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 279000
- Gain Loss Investment
- 193000
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £7,995,000
- Assets Total Fixed
- 9795000
- Assets Own Use
- 381000
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 9414000
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £11,272,000
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £13,072,000
- Assets Current Investment
- 0
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £7,995,000
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 13072000
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,557,000
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 7995000
- Funds Restricted
- 0
- Funds Total
- 7995000
- Count Employees
- 112
- Charity Only Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 2
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2024
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2025
- Ar Received Date
- 23 January 2025
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 0
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 0
- Income Charitable Activities
- 10816000
- Income Investments
- 411000
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 11227000
- Income Legacies
- 0
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £44,000
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £11,927,000
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 11971000
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 44000
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 725000
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 3902000
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 497000
- Gain Loss Investment
- 656000
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £8,735,000
- Assets Total Fixed
- 9610000
- Assets Own Use
- 344000
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 9266000
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £11,256,000
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £12,131,000
- Assets Current Investment
- 0
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £8,735,000
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 12131000
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £3,131,000
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 8735000
- Funds Restricted
- 0
- Funds Total
- 8735000
- Count Employees
- 104
- Charity Only Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 3
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2023
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2024
- Ar Received Date
- 19 January 2024
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 0
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 0
- Income Charitable Activities
- 10028000
- Income Investments
- 312000
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 10340000
- Income Legacies
- 0
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £44,000
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £10,494,000
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 10538000
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 44000
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 685000
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 3561000
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 156000
- Gain Loss Investment
- -558000
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £8,857,000
- Assets Total Fixed
- 9436000
- Assets Own Use
- 742000
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 8694000
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £10,637,000
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £11,216,000
- Assets Current Investment
- 8950000
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £8,857,000
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 11216000
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,253,000
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 8857000
- Funds Restricted
- 0
- Funds Total
- 8857000
- Count Employees
- 102
- Charity Only Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 4
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2022
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2023
- Ar Received Date
- 3 January 2023
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 0
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 0
- Income Charitable Activities
- 9798000
- Income Investments
- 239000
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 10037000
- Income Legacies
- 0
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £47,000
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £9,446,000
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 9493000
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 47000
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 649000
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 3264000
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 136000
- Gain Loss Investment
- 442000
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £9,613,000
- Assets Total Fixed
- 10074000
- Assets Own Use
- 814000
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 9260000
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £10,073,000
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £10,534,000
- Assets Current Investment
- 7700000
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £9,613,000
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 10534000
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,848,000
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 9613000
- Funds Restricted
- 0
- Funds Total
- 9613000
- Count Employees
- 87
- Charity Only Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 5
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 April 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 March 2021
- Ar Due Date
- 31 January 2022
- Ar Received Date
- 13 January 2022
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 0
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 0
- Income Charitable Activities
- 9571000
- Income Investments
- 2110000
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 11681000
- Income Legacies
- 0
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £43,000
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £8,550,000
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 8593000
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 43000
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 728000
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 3040000
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 2166000
- Gain Loss Investment
- 1896000
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £8,627,000
- Assets Total Fixed
- 9879000
- Assets Own Use
- 1019000
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 8860000
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £8,897,000
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £10,149,000
- Assets Current Investment
- 7700000
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £8,627,000
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 10149000
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £660,000
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 8627000
- Funds Restricted
- 0
- Funds Total
- 8627000
- Count Employees
- 83
- Charity Only Accounts
- Yes
06 Official extract
Charity Area Of Operation
- Geographic Area Type
- Region
- Geographic Area Description
- Throughout England And Wales
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Country
- Geographic Area Description
- Northern Ireland
- Parent Geographic Area Type
- Continent
- Parent Geographic Area Description
- Europe
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Country
- Geographic Area Description
- Scotland
- Parent Geographic Area Type
- Continent
- Parent Geographic Area Description
- Europe
- Welsh Ind
- No
07 Official extract
Charity Classification
- Classification Code
- 103
- Classification Type
- What
- Classification Description
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- Classification Code
- 307
- Classification Type
- How
- Classification Description
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Classification Code
- 306
- Classification Type
- How
- Classification Description
- Provides Services
- Classification Code
- 206
- Classification Type
- Who
- Classification Description
- Other Defined Groups
- Classification Code
- 102
- Classification Type
- What
- Classification Description
- Education/training
- Classification Code
- 207
- Classification Type
- Who
- Classification Description
- The General Public/mankind
- Classification Code
- 308
- Classification Type
- How
- Classification Description
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
08 Official extract
Charity Event History
- Charity Name
- GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL
- Charity Event Order
- 1
- Event Type
- Standard registration
- Date Of Event
- 2012-12-12T00:00:00
09 Official extract
Charity Governing Document
- Governing Document Description
- OPTICIANS ACT 1989 AS AMENDED BY THE MEDICAL ACT 1983 (AMENDMENT) AND MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS ORDER 2006
- Charitable Objects
- TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE AMONG OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND THOSE TRAINING TO BE OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND IN PARTICULAR: (A) BY THE MAINTENANCE OF REGISTERS OF THE NAMES OF PERSONS WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO UNDERTAKE TRAINING TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME OPTOMETRISTS OR OPTICIANS;(B) BY DEFINING, CREATING AND MAINTAINING AN EFFECTIVE STRUCTURE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AMONG OPTOMETRISTS AND DISPENSING OPTICIANS AND AMONG PERSONS SEEKING TO QUALIFY AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, AND SUPERVISING THE PROVISION OF SUCH EDUCATION AND TRAINING;(C) BY ENSURING THAT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO TRAIN FOR SUCH PRACTICE, IN FACT DO SO;(D) BY THE PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE FIT TO PRACTISE AS OPTOMETRISTS OR DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OR TO TRAIN FOR SUCH PRACTICE.
- Area Of Benefit
- ENGLAND AND WALES
10 Official extract
Charity Policy
- Policy Name
- Risk management
- Policy Name
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Paying staff
- Policy Name
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Investment
- Policy Name
- Conflicting interests
- Policy Name
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Complaints handling
- Policy Name
- Internal risk management policy and procedures