Federation Of Optometrists And Dispensing Opticians Educational Charity

Quick Stats

• Registered: 1998
• Annual Income: £5,454 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £30,584 (2024)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (primarily UK-wide)
• Charity Number: 1070217
• Company Number: 03524572

Contact Details

Address: 34 High Street, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands, WS9 8LZ

Phone: 02072985151

Email: david@fodo.com

Website: https://www.fodo.com/members/guidance/category-4/educational-charity/

Overview

The Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Educational Charity was registered on 25 June 1998 as a charitable company. The charity exists to “further the education and training of the public including in relation to optics in any way whatsoever.” It supports high-quality education and training in eye care services across the UK, enabling career development in clinical practice, business, management, academia, and research. The charity sponsors innovation in education and training, supports new educational models including professional conversion courses, higher levels of patient-facing training, and self-directed and reflective learning. The charity operates as the educational arm of FODO (Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians), whose members provide more than 80% of all NHS primary eye care.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates several distinct funding streams:

1. Institutional Development Grants

• Supports the development of new optometry degree programs
• Provides expertise and funding for educational innovation
• Example: Funded University of the Highlands and Islands BSc (Hons) Optometry degree (launched 2020)

2. Student Prize Awards

Provides annual prizes at multiple universities:

• University of Bradford: Career Progression Prize and clinical prize
• City, University of London: Prize for Improvement on First Year Work
• University of Plymouth: Award for best overall performance in law, ethics and business management
• Anglia Ruskin University: Best overall performance in the Optometry Degree
• Technological University Dublin: Best performance in optometric practice management (final year BSc Hons Optometry and second year BSc Ophthalmic Dispensing)
• University of Central Lancashire (UCLan): Award for best clinical performance (since 2022)
• ABDO College: Student prizes

3. Irvine Aitchison Memorial Fund (IAMF) Bursaries

• Two annual bursaries for second-year optometry and dispensing optician students (third year at Glasgow Caledonian University)
• Provides opportunity for two-week work experience in Africa with Vision Aid Overseas
• Established in 1997, has supported more than 36 students
• Covers costs for students to participate in outreach eye care services in developing countries

4. Pedagogical Skills Development

• Since 2018, funding through the College of Optometrists to develop online training for pedagogical skills among optometric and dispensing optician professions
• Aims to raise standards of education, training and supervision across the sector

Priority Areas

• Optometry and dispensing optician education programs at UK universities
• Student development and excellence recognition
• International clinical experience for students
• Professional pedagogical training for practitioners
• Innovation in educational delivery models
• Supporting access to eye care education in underserved regions

What They Don't Fund

The charity's specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but their charitable objects limit their scope to education and training in relation to optics.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

1. Harjit Sandu (Appointed 04 October 2019) - Group Managing Director of FODO, former optometrist (2003-2015), holds MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management from London School of Economics. Former Trustee of Vision Care for Homeless People (2010-2017).

1. Stuart Alan Tinger (Appointed 15 July 2015) - Director and consultant to FODO, leads on regulatory affairs including professional liability, legal defence, optical regulation, finance and taxation. Chartered accountant and Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. Also serves as RNIB group treasurer and chair of Audit and Investment Committees, part-time executive chairman of LOCSU.

1. David Hewlett - Chief Executive of the FODO Group. Medieval linguist by background, former senior civil servant in UK Departments of Health and Social Security responsible for NHS hospitals and specialized services. Trustee of Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and former Vice-Chair of Action for Blind People.

Key Quotes from Leadership

David Hewlett stated: “The FODO Educational Charity is delighted to support this innovative new programme” (referring to the University of the Highlands and Islands optometry degree).

Alan Tinger, FODO educational charity trustee, said: “The charity is proud to have supported this programme” (regarding UHI BSc Hons Optometry qualification).

David Cartwright, IAMF chair, noted the Vision Aid Overseas bursary program helps “encourage talent” in the optical sector and sets young volunteers “on a path to become the optical leaders of tomorrow.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The FODO Educational Charity does not have a public application process. Grants and funding decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the trustees based on strategic priorities for advancing optical education in the UK.

Student prize awards are administered automatically through participating universities - students do not apply directly to the charity.

For the Irvine Aitchison Memorial Fund bursaries, applications open annually for second-year optometry and dispensing optician students interested in Vision Aid Overseas placements.

Getting on Their Radar

The charity appears to work primarily with established educational institutions in the optical sector. Key relationships include:

• Universities offering accredited optometry and dispensing optician programs
• The College of Optometrists
• Vision Aid Overseas
• ABDO (Association of British Dispensing Opticians)

Institutions seeking support should have a connection to advancing optical education. The charity has shown particular interest in:

• Addressing geographical gaps in optometry education (e.g., Scotland)
• Supporting pedagogical development for practitioners
• Providing international experience opportunities for students

Contact David Hewlett at david@fodo.com for inquiries about institutional partnerships.

Application Success Factors

Given the charity's trustee-led discretionary approach, successful funding appears to align with:

Strategic Alignment with Optical Sector Needs

• The University of the Highlands and Islands program was supported because it was “the first new optometry degree to be launched in Scotland in almost 50 years” and addressed “the growing demand for eye care services in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland, particularly in remote and rural communities.”

Innovation in Educational Delivery

• The charity explicitly supports “new educational models” including professional conversion courses and higher levels of patient-facing training
• Projects that adapt education as “public health needs, scope of practice and workforce demographics change”

Sector Endorsement

• Projects receiving General Optical Council approval
• Partnerships with established optical education institutions and professional bodies

Student Development Focus

• Programs that develop clinical skills, business acumen, and professional leadership
• Opportunities that “encourage talent” and develop “the optical leaders of tomorrow”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The charity operates primarily through trustee discretion rather than open application processes - relationship building with FODO leadership is essential
• Focus on addressing geographical gaps or underserved areas in optical education
• Demonstrate innovation in educational delivery that responds to changing healthcare needs
• Ensure projects have endorsement from relevant professional bodies (General Optical Council, College of Optometrists)
• Student-focused initiatives should emphasize leadership development and clinical excellence
• International experience opportunities aligned with Vision Aid Overseas work are valued
• Small charity with limited annual income (£5,454) but strategic impact through targeted institutional support
• Projects should advance the entire optical profession's educational infrastructure, not just individual institutions

References

1. Charity Commission - Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Educational Charity (Charity Number 1070217), accessed 28 December 2025. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3950910/full-print

1. FODO website - Educational Charity page, accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.fodo.com/members/guidance/category-4/educational-charity/

1. FODO website - Training and Education page, accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.fodo.com/members/guidance/category-4/training-and-education/

1. Association of Optometrists - “Move to launch new optometry school in Scotland,” 28 June 2017. https://www.aop.org.uk/ot/life-in-practice/career-development/2017/06/28/move-to-launch-new-optometry-school-in-scotland

1. University of the Highlands and Islands - “New degree to address growing eye health need,” 2019. https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/media/news-archive/2019/new-degree-to-address-growing-eye-health-need.html

1. Optician Online - “Irvine Aitchison Memorial Fund and VAO offers bursary,” accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.opticianonline.net/news/irvine-aitchison-memorial-fund-and-vao-offers-bursary

1. Association of Optometrists - “Applications open for Aitchison Fund,” 26 October 2015. https://www.aop.org.uk/ot/life-in-practice/career-development/2015/10/26/applications-open-for-aitchison-fund

1. FODO website - “FODO award recognises outstanding work by UCLan student,” accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.fodo.com/news-and-views/more/29491/page/1/fodo-award-recognises-outstanding-work-by-uclan-student/

1. Companies House - Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Educational Charity (Company Number 03524572), accessed 28 December 2025. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03524572

1. LinkedIn - David Hewlett profile, accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hewlett-789bb93a/

1. LOCSU - Executive Board information, accessed 28 December 2025. https://locsu.co.uk/about-us/locsu-board/

1. Optician Online - “Alan Tinger hired as new RNIB treasurer,” accessed 28 December 2025. https://www.opticianonline.net/news/alan-tinger-hired-new-rnib-treasurer