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Grants available

BMA Charities is two charities which help doctors and their dependents and medical students in times of financial crisis. We are made up of two independent charities registered with the Charity Commission: the BMA Charities Trust Fund and the Dain Fund. We have a close relationship with the British Medical Association but are an independent organisation. The donations we receive only go towards helping people, not funding research.

The BMA Charities Trust Fund offers grants to doctors and medical students who are in financial difficulty. It provides:

  • annual grants to medical students who are taking medicine as a second degree
  • one-off grants to medical students who are in immediate and serious financial need
  • one-off grants to unemployed doctors for essential items such as utility bills, travel and disability equipment
  • one-off grants to working doctors in financial hardship for help with the GMC retention fee and professional indemnity insurance
  • grants to refugee and asylum-seeking doctors to meet the costs of taking the PLAB exams and GMC registration
  • money advice for any doctor who is having difficulty managing financially

The Dain Fund assists with the education and support of the children of medical practitioners. The Fund particularly welcomes applications from refugee doctors. Grants are made for items such as school clothing, school trips, essential IT equipment, disability equipment, breakfast clubs and, occasionally, short-term school fees; however, the Fund is unable to help with childcare costs for working doctors.

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