Many of the organisations below provide broad information on services offered and links to other sources of assistance.
Healthcare Workers Foundation. For anyone working in a healthcare setting, no matter what your role
Royal College of Podiatrists. Arch Support provides assistance to members of The College of Podiatry, former members and the dependents of deceased members. Grants are usually one-off awards. In exceptional circumstances, the Trustees may consider another application and endeavour to assist where possible. To be eligible for help from Arch Support, you must meet the following qualifying rules (eligibility criteria):
- Be on a low income (usually less than 80% of the national median income).
- Have claimed or be in the process of claiming all the benefits to which you are entitled.
- Have less than £16,000 savings if you are of working age or less than £10,000 if you are of state pension age.
- Fulfil one of the following criteria:
a) Be a member of The Royal College of Podiatry or have been a member of the College;
b) Be the widow(er) of a deceased member, or former member, of The College of Podiatry;
c) Be the son or daughter of a member, former member, or a deceased member of The Royal College of Podiatry and still in full time education or training for a profession.
The BDA Benevolent Fund cares for dentists and their dependents and dental students. You do not need to be member of the BDA to apply. A short YouTube video BDA Benevolent Fund – application explainer 2022 gives further information on what is included and excluded as well as explaining the application process.
Nurses and Midwives via RCN Foundation Benevolent Service. You do not have to be a member of the RCN to apply. The fund supports current and former nurses, midwifes and nursing support worker, as well as students (in exceptional circumstances) and nursing associates. Includes staff providing health or social care under the guidance and supervision of a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor. Items that can be applied for, include NMC Registration fees. Those eligible to apply include:
- NMC registered nurses and midwives who live in the UK including nurses who have qualified abroad and are seeking to work in a health care environment.
- Health care support workers, nursing associates and nursing apprentices living in the UK who have practised in a health care support role for three or more years, under the supervision of registered nurses. Applicants who are currently retired or off sick having previously worked in these roles can be considered for funding, if evidence of three years’ health care support employment can be provided.
- Nursing undergraduate students whose funding has stopped due to illness, or who are fleeing domestic abuse, or who have experienced a bereavement of a partner that they lived with (please get in touch with the Foundation to discuss specific cases).
Cavell Nurses’ Trust. Provides support for:
- Registered nurses and midwives; retired nurses and midwives
- HCAs and nursing auxiliaries with at least 3 years employment in a hospital or clinical setting under direct supervision of a registered nurse
- Students on recognised courses will be considered if they are in exceptional circumstances such as sudden ill health or in a crisis situation. Cannot ‘top up’ NHS nursing bursaries, usual student expenses or pay for study fees.
Junius S Morgan Benevolent Fund. This is for UK registered nurses and midwives who have practised for a minimum of five years post registration.
Health care assistants who have practiced for a minimum of five years in the NHS and retired UK nurses, midwives and health care assistants who have worked for a minimum of five years.
King Edward VII Memorial Trust. To be eligible you must be:
A nurse or midwife in Scotland or with a strong Scottish connection. You are aged or retired or suffering from illness or disability or suffering from financial hardship. There is limited funding available for nurses’ continuing education and training expenses.
Nurses Benevolent Fund. This is available to any member of the nursing profession who worked or trained in Scotland and is experiencing financial difficulties due to their inability to continue working.
For medical staff. The BMA Charities can help all doctors (not just members) in times of need. The Fund can provide one-off grants for doctors and their dependents for specific items in times of crisis. Most of its work is with doctors who are not working for whatever reason and are in financial difficulty because of this.
The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund helps doctors and families in need and includes medical students.
The Dain Fund helps with the education and support of doctors’ children when there are financial problems in the family. In most of the families helped the parents are out of work or on a very low income. The fund particularly welcomes applications from refugee doctors. The fund is unable to help with childcare costs for working doctors. You do not have to be a BMA member to make an application.
Optometrists can apply to the Benevolent Fund for the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists. Information is available from admin@opticalbenfund.com or 01787 223800
Support for orthoptists from the Orthoptic Benevolent Fund. Members of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society can login to get more information
Scientists over 50 can apply to the John Murdoch Trust. There is a preference for individuals living in Scotland or with a clear Scottish connection, but people from elsewhere in the UK are also eligible. The deadline for the next round of applications is 7 May 2023. Grants may be given for:
- Financial assistance with transport
- Financial assistance with furniture and home repairs
- Purchase of computers and equipment
- Grants for well-being and care
- Personal expenses
Support for Pharmacists. A range of support can be provided to pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists, trainees, and students who are facing financial difficulties due to unexpected hardship, for example ill health, unemployment, bereavement, care costs and unexpected events. You are eligible if you are a:
- Pharmacist who is or has been registered with the GPhC or the RPS
- Widow/widower or former long term partner of a pharmacist – please see definition on Pharmacist Support website
- Dependant of a pharmacist – please see eligibility criteria on Pharmacist Support website
- Trainee Pharmacist
- Pharmacy or OSPAP Student
Support for physiotherapists. The members Benevolent Fund is able to support past and present members of the CSP experiencing unforeseen hardship or financial hardship. To be eligible
- Members must have been a subscribing of the CSP for two years (six months for students) although they will also make discretionary decisions in exceptional circumstances
- Those who cease to be members, for example, retired physiotherapy and associate members are also eligible for support.
- Previous student members will be eligible provided they complete their study, qualified as a physiotherapist, and work in the UK.
- Previous qualified or associate members, who no longer work within physiotherapy, are eligible for support for up to 5 years following the ending of their membership.
Application forms can be downloaded or you can call to discuss your application with someone, please call 03306 780 655. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Society of Radiographers. Provides support for eligible applicants who are undergoing financial hardship through redundancy, unemployment, illness, bereavement, disability or accident for example. In order to be eligible applicants must:
- Be a Society of Radiographers member (includes student members), former member or financial dependant of a member or former member; and
- Have capital or savings (excluding your residence) no higher than the Department for Work and Pensions limit (currently £16,000).
