Teams start preparing for OPTOVERSITY CHALLENGE 2025

Out of the Box Optic’s Optoversity Challenge – the exciting student competition and fundraiser for Vision Care for Homeless People – has opened the 2025 registration.

Optometry schools are invited to propose a team for this easy-to-enter challenge which brings together students from across the UK & ROI.

Sponsorship of competing students has raised £42,000 for the regional VCHP eyecare clinics during the eight years of the event. The competition also gives students a chance to meet optical professionals from a range of sponsor companies and gain an insight into the diverse career possibilities the field of optics has to offer, both in paid employment and volunteering.

Alison Gordon, VCHP Fundraiser, explained –

“This is a fun event and draws on what students in the various year group have already been learning.”

Optoversity Challenge 2025 is taking place on 16 February as an online event for first and second year students. It will be held as a live in-person events for third and fourth year students in Manchester and Bristol on 22 February.

Manchester’s event will be hosted by Optegra Eye Hospital, which will bring students to see another aspect of vision care, as the hospital explained –

“By hosting this event, we’re proud to contribute to a cause that brings positive change. We are also proud to be able to showcase our wonderful hospital and facilities to pre-reg optoms and partners in the community.”

The Bristol part of the challenge is to be hosted by Optical Express at the Bristol Eye Clinic.

Support via sponsorship and prizes for Optoversity Challenge comes from a wide spectrum of optical businesses:

Ambri Eyewear, AOP, Bondeye Student Optical, College of Optometrists, FODO, HEINE, Keeler, Menicon, Mondottica, Norville, Optelec, SpaMedica, Specsavers, Thea, Tokai, Topcon, Wolf Eyewear, and 101 Optometry.

Alison Gordon added, “The success of Optoversity Challenge rests very much on the generous support given by numerous companies in the optical community, with prizes awarded to the highest performing students in each year group and the top fundraisers. Last year’s student fundraising was the highest ever – with students raising £7,000.”

Optoversity Challenge, running since 2017, is the brainchild of training student pre-reg and mentoring providers, Out of the Box Optics. They founded the event as a fun and accessible competition and, due to their strong beliefs in providing eyecare for all, chose VCHP as the charity partner.

Companies wishing to offer support are encouraged to contact alison.gordon@vchp.org.uk

Students can find out more and register here: Vision Care For Homeless People: Out of the Box Optoversity Challenge 2025