Charities

The BMA Charities are two registered charities which can help all doctors (not just members) in times of need.

BMA Charities Trust Fund

Doctors and their dependents
The Fund can provide one-off grants to doctors and their dependents for specific items in times of crisis; it does not make general awards for 'living costs' nor is it able to maintain lifestyles. Most of its work is with doctors who are not working for whatever reason and are in financial difficulty because of this.

Doctors who are in work may usually only apply for help with paying for their General Medical Council (GMC) registration fees and medical defence insurance.

For doctors who are not working and are experiencing debt problems we may help with paying for outstanding Council Tax or bankruptcy fees, if appropriate. Doctors who are worried about debt may be referred to a licensed debt counsellor for free money advice.

The Fund also helps refugee and asylum seeking doctors with taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) exams.

The Fund does not help with legal fees, private medical treatment or career enhancement projects.

Medical students
Grants are offered to medical students who are taking medicine as a second degree and who do not have access to the NHS Bursary Scheme. Applicants must have more than £25,000 of debt and be in their second year or higher. Applications for help with the following academic year are accepted between November and January each year.

Medical Benevolent Funds
The  Fund helps by giving grants to other charities which support doctors. 

The Dain Fund

The Dain Fund helps with the educational costs of the children of medical doctors in certain situations. It assists families who are experiencing an unforeseen financial crisis following an unexpected life event such as involuntary unemployment, family breakdown or the serious illness of a parent.

For children in state education grants may be available for items such as school clothing, travel costs, school trips, essential text books and music or swimming lessons.

For children in private education the Fund may make short term grants to enable a child to stay at the school until the end of the academic year when a move to the state system should occur. An exception is made for children who have already begun studying for key examinations where the Fund may make a grant to cover the fees until the exams are taken.

For children at university, applications for grants may be considered from doctors’ children who experience an unforeseen financial crisis mid-course.

Supporting BMA Charities

You can support the work of BMA Charities by:
- Making a donation by Gift Aid
- Payroll giving
- Leaving a legacy in your Will
- Supporting conference appeals
- Buying BMA Charities Christmas cards

Contact us

Please contact the Clerk to the Trustees, Marian Flint by calling 020 7383 6142 or email info.bmacharities@bma.org.uk for further information.