GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL
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.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a £0.7m deficit, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £8.0m. The trustees report that reserves are within the stated policy target range of £2.3m to £4.3m for non-designated funds. The filing confirms that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.
What the accounts disclose
In the news
- General Optical Council: Commercial practices and patient safety in the primary eye care sector (23 September 2026)
- Patel v General Optical Council: Court of Appeal refuses permission despite judgement delays
- Five insights from General Optical Council
- General Optical Council (GOC) consultation on reforms to the system for Continuing Professional Development for optometrists and dispensing opticians
- Five insights from the General Optical Council
- Policy briefing General Optical Council research on a risk-based framework for the testing of sight
- Bad Optics: The High Court Focuses on Panel Member’s Apparent Bias in Suleman v General Optical Council [2023] EWHC 2110 (Admin)
- General Optical Council awards full approval for the University of Huddersfield's Optometry degree
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- Catherine Yelf
- Dr Anne Wright CBE
- Frank Munro
- Kalwant Singh Grewal
- Kathryn Ann Foreman
- LISA GERSON
- Poonam Sharma
- Professor Hema Radhakrishnan
- Raymond Curran
- Ros Leveson
- Timothy Parkinson
- William Stockdale
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £12.2m | £13.1m |
| 31/03/2024 | £11.2m | £12.0m |
| 31/03/2023 | £10.3m | £10.5m |
| 31/03/2022 | £10.0m | £9.5m |
| 31/03/2021 | £11.7m | £8.6m |
Common questions
Is GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a £0.7m deficit, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £8.0m. The trustees report that reserves are within the stated policy target range of £2.3m to £4.3m for non-designated funds. The filing confirms that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.
Who funds GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL?
Funders whose own accounts filings name GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL as a grant recipient include THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST | FY2025 | £10k | Get Set Progress grants to organisations hosting interns |
| THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST | FY2024 | £10k | Regular grants programme |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD | 1 | £11.8m |
| Fight for Sight | 1 | £238k |
| DEVELOPMENTS IN LITERACY UK (UK) | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- THE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS
- GENERAL OSTEOPATHIC COUNCIL
- BRITISH AND IRISH ORTHOPTIC SOCIETY
- GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL
- I.O.O. LIMITED
- THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL | £12.2m | — | — | within | — | no doubt |
| THE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS | £10.7m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GENERAL OSTEOPATHIC COUNCIL | £3.0m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| BRITISH AND IRISH ORTHOPTIC SOCIETY | £773k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL | £167.5m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| I.O.O. LIMITED | £4.4m | — | 0 | below | — | material uncertainty |