NOTICE OF THE AOP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

To all members of the Association of Optometrists (AOP). This year the AGM of the AOP will be at the AOP’s office:

2 Woodbridge Street, London EC1R 0DG on Wednesday 7 June, commencing at 9am.

By Order of the Directors. Adam Sampson, chief executive, 2 Woodbridge Street, London EC1R ODG

1. Please note that a full set of the 2022 accounts will be available at www.aop.org.uk in advance of the AGM

1. Introduction by the chairman

2. To receive and approve the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on 8 June 2022

3. Roll of deceased members

4. To receive the chairman’s report

5. To receive the chairman of Finance Committee’s report

6. To approve the Annual Financial Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022

7. To consider and, if thought correct, approve the proposal of the Board that BDO LLP be re-appointed as the Association’s auditors with the opportunity to talk with a trained, empathetic peer who recognises the pressures of optical practice. Those accessing the service for mental health reasons has increased substantially since 2021 when it accounted for 15% of calls, up 12%.

8. Any other business.

What is the Peer Support Line?

2. A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting convened by the notice set out above is entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend and speak and vote in his or her place. A proxy need not be a member of the Association

3. A form of proxy is available on the AOP website: www.aop.org.uk To be effective, the instrument for appointing a proxy must be deposited with the Association’s chief executive at the Association’s office (janicephillips@aop.org.uk) no later than 3.45pm on Friday 2 June 2023. Completion of the proxy does not preclude a member from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting in person if he or she so wishes.

The AOP’s Annual Report will be available at: www.aop.org.uk

Line, a volunteer, who has supported the line since 2017, shared: “The Peer Support Line is important because it provides the professional with a safe and confidential space to express their concerns.”

The Peer Support Line IN NUMBERS

CALLS RECEIVED IN 2022

In 2022, volunteers of the AOP’s confidential, free-phone Peer Support Line received 207 calls.

Launched in May 2017, the service, which is available to members and non-members, will mark its sixth anniversary next month. Since launching, it has received over 1350 calls from practitioners looking for a safe space to discuss any problems they may be experiencing.

Averaging over 17 calls per month last year, the three main reasons given for calling for support were: mental health (27%), employment (17%), and stress (16%). The service aims to provide practitioners at any stage of their optical career, including students,

Speaking to one of the AOP’s 36 Peer Support Line volunteers enables practitioners to talk through their problems in a dedicated non-judgemental space. Volunteers are trained AOP members who will not give advice, but will offer other possible sources of support and, where relevant, help callers to reach a resolution.

Importantly, the volunteers understand the benefits of having someone listen who is impartial and has no personal agenda. Calls can be on a range of issues, including workplace pressure, bullying, ill health, financial worries, bereavement, or anxiety about exams. No issue is too small or too trivial. Calls are completely anonymous and only a first name or alias will be requested.

Views from a volunteer

Speaking about the purpose and importance of the Peer Support

She explained that the volunteers to the line are experienced optometry professionals, which is “an added bonus” as “we really understand when they mention and talk about clinical things.”

The volunteer told OT listening is vital, before they discuss the options available to caller: “We don’t give advice, but if necessary we signpost the callers. It is a discussion for the caller to give them a safe space to talk.”

“We’re there to listen, and to show empathy, and be compassionate to people who need it,” she added.

MORE THAN 1350 CALLS RECEIVED SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN MAY 2017

NUMBER OF CALLS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH HAS INCREASED BY 12% SINCE 2021

The number Call 0800 870 8401. Calls are answered 24 hours a day by an external answering service, with volunteers on duty to return calls between 8am and 8pm.