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New starters at Specsavers will be given a “virtual coin” as part of their induction course and can choose to donate their coin to Sightsavers, Vision Aid Overseas or The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Specsavers will make a real-money donation to the chosen charity in proportion to the virtual coins donated by employees who complete the training. The course has been created for Specsavers by e-learning company Sponge UK.
Louise Pasterfield, Managing Director of Sponge UK, said: “Linking charitable giving to the induction process is not only a strong motivator to help people engage with the training, but also underlines the importance the company places on giving back to communities.”
The module is being rolled out across 15 countries, including the UK, and will form part of the company’s induction programme for all new employees. The induction course helps learners understand Specsavers’ values, goals and brand and reinforces knowledge about the company with authentic scenario questions.
Mike Straney, Director of Major Giving at Sightsavers said: “We’re delighted to have been selected as a charity partner for Specsavers’ induction scheme. It’s a really inventive way to engage employees in company values and raise money for eye health work in developing countries at the same time.”
Around 5,000 people are expected to complete the module in 2016.
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© 2025 Sightsavers. Registered in the UK as Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, charity numbers 207544 and SC038110.