Skip to content

BDA Benevolent fund

We proactively support the financial and emotional needs of dental students, dentists and their dependants.

HOW WE HELP

Financial Support

Apply for financial assistance
towards your essential living costs.

Discover

Debt Advice

Use your postcode to find out where your local advice service is.

Discover

Budget Planner

Take 5 minutes to help better
understand your finances.

Discover

Mental Health Support

Get access to free counselling via our Wellbeing Partner- Health Assured. 

Discover

Legal Information

Get information
on legal matters via our Wellbeing Partner- Health Assured. 

Discover

Bereavement Support

Speak to a qualified and
experienced counsellor via our Wellbeing Partner- Health Assured. 

Discover

HOW TO Access FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Watch the video prior to applying for financial assistance.

News

The image is of baby Jacob's hand holding the little finger of his mother Jessica.

Support in Baby Loss Awareness Week

As part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we’re sharing an article written by Dr Jessica Burley, a dentist who shares her own experience of the stillbirth of her son, Jacob.
Read More

What student applications tell us about financial hardship in dental schools

181 Dental Students Supported to Stay on Course
Read More

Remembering Dianne Waller and her lasting generosity

Dianne supported the Charity for many years, giving her time as a trustee and finding her own ways to raise funds. Through the gift in her will, she will continue to help people across the dental community.
Read More

Gift Aid Awareness Day

Why Gift Aid makes such a difference to the dental community.
Read More

Thank you to Surrey LDC for its £5000 donation

A huge thank you to Surrey Local Dental Committee for their generous donation of £5,000
Read More

Welcoming our new BDA Benevolent Fund Ambassadors

4 new ambassadors join the Charity for All Dentists to help spread the word about the support available for dental students, dentists, refugee and asylum seeker dentists and their families.
Read More

Members back incorporation plans at BDA Benevolent Fund AGM

Members backed plans for the BDA Benevolent Fund to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and elected two new trustees at the charity’s 143rd Annual General Meeting.
Read More

2026 AGM Notice

You are invited to attend the BDA Benevolent Fund’s 143rd Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Read More

Congratulations, Dental Graduate!

Help for dental students who are graduating and going into their foundation training year.
Read More

Join our Board of Trustees

A leading Charity that supports the dental community is looking for two new Trustees to help shape the future of the Charity.
Read More

Dr Austin Banner

Vice-Chairman

  • Trustee since 2010
  • Dental speciality – Retired consultant Orthodontist
  • County – Southern Counties
  • I am a Past President of the BDA Southern Counties Branch with extensive experience in committee, management, teaching, and training.

Dr Peter Crooks

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental Speciality – General Dental Practitioner
  • County – Antrim, Northern Ireland
  • I am the representative of the Principal Executive Committee of the BDA on the BDA Benevolent Fund Board. I hope to continue and foster the close working relationship between the Charity and the BDA, of whose members are also members of the charity. I’m also a Director and Secretary of a charitable company – CHEERS Youth Centre

Dr Molly Deykin

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental speciality – General Dental Practitioner
  • County – London
  • I have been involved in student support groups and I was elected British Dental Student Association President. I worked with the Sands Cox Charity when I was the Dental School Society Vice-President. After graduating I was the Foundation Dentist Representative on the BDA Young Dentists Committee.

Dr Allan Franklin

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2003
  • Dental speciality – General Dental Practitioner for 35 years
  • County – Oldham/ Rochdale
  • I am the Chairman of BDA Oldham & Rochdale Section (and previous Secretary). Chairman for the E.Lancs & E Cheshire Branch of BDA in charge of section regeneration. Previous Chairman of British Society for Dental Hypnosis (as it was then) and involved in Local Dental Committees.

Dr Alex Gormley

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental Speciality – Academic Clinical Fellow at the University of Bristol
  • County – Bristol
  • I have worked in primary dental care and a maxillofacial unit since graduation. I am continuing my dental core training alongside academic training at the University of Bristol. I also serve as the Early Career Representative as an invited board member at the FDS at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Dr Chris Hayward

Treasurer

  • Trustee since 2013
  • Dental speciality – Associate Specialist in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Lead Clinician Dental Emergency Department Newcastle Dental Hospital, Honorary  Clinical Lecturer Newcastle Dental School
  • County – Newcastle/ Northern Counties
  • I have been active in the BDA at Section, Branch, and National Levels. I was a member of the Rep Board/Body; a former member of the BDA PEC; a Director of International Affairs; and the previous BDA Board.

Dr Philip Henderson

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2006
  • Dental Speciality-Principal Practice Owner and in General Dental Service for 37 years.
  • County – Antrim, Northern Ireland
  • I have been a Church Elder for 34 years with pastoral care responsibility Local Dental Adviser for Dental Protection including attending GDC Hearings and Probity work in NHS Current member “Probing Dental Stress” group in N.I.
  • Past: LDC Chair, N.I.DPC Chair, Northern Ireland Branch BDA President, Director of the BDA’s PEC for two terms

Dr Ros Keeton

Chairman

  • Trustee since 2008
  • Dental Specialty – Leadership and management of Dental Services
  • County – Shropshire
  • I am an experienced NHS Chief Executive and health care leader who combines a dental background with substantial leadership experience. I am also a Chairman of a specialist hospice and EOL charity Compton Care. I am a passionate and committed advocate for dentists in distress.

Dr Stuart Robson

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2006
  • Dental speciality – A General Dental Practitioner
  • County– North Yorkshire
  • Former President of BDA 1999- 2000, previous Vice-Chairman of BDA Council and also Dental Services Committee. On behalf of North Yorkshire LDC, was organiser and lead of the North Yorkshire PASS (Practitioner Advice and Support Scheme) preventing some dentist with problems having dire financial and professional difficulties.

Dr Bill Creedon

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2014
  • Dental speciality – GDP
  • County – Hampshire

  • I have been in general practice for over 20 years as a practice owner in Southampton. The last four years I have been also working at Kings College, London. I am Chair of the BDA’s Wessex branch and Vice Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight LDC.

Join our mailing list

Join our community! Get exclusive content, tips, and news straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now