ABDO clarifies college funding

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians has released a statement aiming to clarify its funding of the ABDO College, following an ongoing campaign by four of its members (News, September 1).

In recent months, Tim Bowden, David High, Robert Jardine and Graham Legg have raised concerns about the extent to which ABDO supports the college, suggesting the Association was investing too much in the institution.

Reading from a prepared statement at last weekend's ABDO annual general meeting, immediate past president James Russell explained the Association had loaned the college a total of £395,000 between 2001 and 2004.

This figure included an initial loan of £250,000, which was converted to a grant in 2004. A further discretionary grant of £60,000 was made in 2005. The grants have been effectively written off against the loan. Russell stressed that there was a significant return on this investment.