Occupational Benevolent Funds - Are you Eligible for Help?

Almost every occupation in the UK (from architects to solicitors, from gardeners to musicians) has a benevolent fund. These exist to provide financial support to members of the occupation (and often their dependants) in times of need, provided you come within their eligibility criteria. For instance some require a number of years service in the profession.

Here are some which may be able to help you, as a medical student, provided one of your parents worked in an appropriate profession for the requisite period of time and is now in need. Help may also be available for brothers or sisters on non medical degree courses:

If your parents are already receiving help or have received help from an occupational benevolent fund, the fund will already have their details and should be able to consider your application more quickly.

If your parents aren’t already receiving help but look to be eligible, it may be worth their contacting the relevant fund to find out more. For occupational benevolent funds, you will usually only become eligible for help through your parents (as the current or former members of the relevant profession), so this is the vital first step.

May be willing to provide an allowance of up to £1,000 pa to students in Higher Education, to supplement their student loan.

Exists to help those whose former training equated to NVQ Level 4 and above eg teachers, nurses, social workers, senior managers, artists and writers.

‘Pay a small amount each term to help the children of existing beneficiaries through university.’

Exists to help members of established professions and university graduates.

May be able to help students on ‘essential university courses’ who began their course with the expectation of complete funding but are now in difficulty and have utilized all other funding opportunities open to them eg student loans and Career Development Loans

The leading occupational benevolent fund for GMC registered doctors in need and their dependants.

Grants may be available for eligible student beneficiaries.

24 King's Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 8QN (020 8540 9194)

Able to help medical students who are the sons and daughters of doctors in need – can sometimes be flexible and pick up ‘people who fall between two stools’ (eg residence and income guidelines).

Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, London W1G 9EB (01234 217522)
www.widowsandorphans.org.uk

Solicitors Benevolent Association

‘Students at university whose parents cannot afford the full costs are eligible for a grant to help with books and living expenses.’

Prepared to assist with living expenses (up to £1,500) where a student member experiences genuine difficulty eg due to illness and having to re-sit or the loss of financial support from a parent due to changed circumstances. Help is for a period of 12 months in the first instance but may be continued, following review.

If your parent’s occupation isn’t listed above, try the website of the Occupational Benevolent Funds Alliance. This has details of over 200 occupational benevolent funds, from the Actors Benevolent Fund to the Wine and Spirits Trade Benevolent Society