How we have helped
Alaia*
Refugee Dentist
I am a dentist—and dentistry isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. I studied and practised abroad for years before circumstances forced me to leave my home in the Middle East. When I came to the UK as a refugee, I brought with me not only my experience and training, but also a deep determination to rebuild my career and contribute again through the profession I love.
In 2019, I was granted refugee status and began the long journey of requalifying to practise dentistry in the UK. My first goal was to sit the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) Part 1. I successfully secured an exam date—but then Covid-19 struck, and everything was delayed. It was an incredibly frustrating time, but I kept studying and stayed focused. When I finally sat the exam in 2022, all my hard work paid off—I passed!
The next step was ORE Part 2. This part of the process is much more expensive, and as a single mother, saving that amount of money was extremely difficult. I turned to Google, thinking I might have to take out a loan. That’s when I came across something that felt almost too good to be true—the BDA Benevolent Fund.
I learned that they had just updated their criteria to support refugee and asylum-seeking dentists, providing grants that didn’t need to be repaid. It felt like a miracle. I quickly gathered the documents and submitted my application.
The process was smooth and straightforward. Not long after I applied, I received a phone call from Laura, the CEO, who went through my application with me. Just a few days later, I received the news: I had been awarded the full amount to cover my ORE Part 2 exam fees. I was absolutely overjoyed.
In addition to the funding, I was offered access to wellbeing support, which I didn’t need at the time, but what made a huge difference was the BDA Library and all its resources. It helped me revise and feel more prepared than ever.
Another blessing was that the GDC announced, at the beginning of 2025, a priority booking system for the Refugees in the UK and the BDA Benevolent Fund were able to pay the fees for ORE2 directly to the GDC to secure my place. From my side all I had to do was to study and focus and in April 2025, I passed!
Now, I’m in the process of registering with the General Dental Council and taking the final steps to return to a profession I love with all my heart.
This journey wouldn’t have been possible without my daughter, who stood by me every step of the way, and without the incredible support of the BDA Benevolent Fund. Their grant didn’t just help me pay for an exam—it gave me back my purpose, my future, and my chance to give back through dentistry.
