The vacancy
We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.
About the GOC
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct. For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.
About the Council
The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services. The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians). At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary.
The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders.
Remuneration and time commitment
Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses). The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.
The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month. Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.
How to apply:
Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org
· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;
· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and
· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.
If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours.
We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.
We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Forest of Avon is looking for a capable and proactive Funding and Impact Manager to coordinate and manage our income generation activities. This is an exciting role with real purpose, helping us build a sustainable funding future that supports our mission and delivers long-lasting benefit across the Forest of Avon area.
The Forest of Avon is one of England’s Community Forests and an independent charity. We work mainly across Bristol, Bath and North-East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We are growing our work and impact through implementing the Forest of Avon Plan, Tree and Woodland Strategy for the West of England, delivering our multi-million-pound tree planting and woodland creation programme ‘Trees for Climate’, as well as delivering many other projects in tree and woodland management, skills, health and wellbeing.
In March 2025, we won the bid for the new national forest - the Western Forest, receiving £7.5m over 5 years to deliver 2,500 hectares. The Western Forest is led by and hosted within the Forest of Avon. This role will coordinate with the Western Forest team on the elements that apply within the Forest of Avon.
The expertise within the Forest of Avon is developed and we have been successful in multiple bids. This role will build on this work being instrumental in coordinating the charity’s varied fundraising efforts, these include grant applications for capital projects and unrestricted income, corporate donations and individual giving. They will play a key role in developing a funding plan that supports the Forest of Avon objectives. They will coordinate priorities across the team, bringing together information to build a pipeline of funding opportunity.
Job Description
Key elements of the role include:
1. To develop and implement a successful funding strategy to grow our non-government funding across multiple income streams, in particular unrestricted income, to achieve impact
2. To build and nurture excellent working relationships with prospective funders
3. To lead on grant applications, working with the team, securing funds
4. To assess existing income streams and to explore new income streams
5. To support the development of communication assets and organise events to highlight funding appeals
6. To keep up to date on the latest developments within the environmental/ community funding landscape
7. To be the connection into any fundraising network of partnerships for example England’s Community Forests, Western Forest, West of England Nature Partnership
Please send a CV and a written statement of your experience addressing the personal specification by Monday 4th August at 5pm - Please view PDF attached or visit the careers section on our website for full job description and details on how to apply.
Interviews are planned to take place the week commencing 18th August (subject to change). Applications will be anonymised prior to shortlisting.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We are England's Community Forest for the West of England, now hosting the Western Forest, England's first new national forest!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.