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Financial support

We offer assistance to dental students, dentists, asylum seeker and refugee dentists and the dependants of these three categories. You must be living in the UK and in financial need. 


how to apply

Watch our video “How to apply“.  Click on the ‘Application Form‘ button.

If you feel that you may have difficulties completing the form digitally or if you have any questions, please give us a call on 0207 486 4994 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5.30pm). 

All requests are considered in confidence

We are independent of the BDA and open to all dental students/ dentists. You do not need to be a BDA member to seek support.

We tailor our support to tackle your most priority needs. This is usually contributions towards your housing i.e. rent or mortgage/ essential bills/ food and living costs. 

After you’ve applied a converation with the office staff will be arranged to explain the process and go through any queries. All support is given by the discretion of the Trustees.

We do not offer funding towards debt or for other dental registrants.

You can access our wellbeing services for free at any time. You don’t need to apply for financial assistance first. Visit the Wellbeing page for further information.

Application Form
You can access our support if you:

Have previously been or are currently registered as a DENTIST with the
General Dental Council (GDC).

Are a currently a BDS/ BChD DENTAL STUDENT

Are the DEPENDENT
of a dentist i.e. partner/spouse/ widow or a co-parent of a child of a dentist.

And you:
Live in the UK

Are experiencing unforseen hardship 

Are unable to manage your essential living costs this month [academic year for students]

Have less than £10,000 in savings (excluding tax)

How We Help

We tailor our support to help you become financially independent again by tackling your most pressing need first. 

After the form has been submitted, if eligible for assistance, you will have a conversation with office to go through it to help learn more about the context of your situation and to resolve any queries. 

If following our acknowledgement, we don’t hear from you within 4 weeks of submitting the form, we will presume your situation has improved and you no longer need help. Your application will be withdrawn.

Here are just some examples of the type of financial support we usually offer – prioritising essential living costs (housing/bills/food/travel etc) first.

Support for those at  university who are unable to meet their basic costs.

Short term support towards your housing e.g. rent or mortgage payments (up to 3 months).

Contributions towards your water/ energy/ telephone/ council tax bills.

Money for food and general household and personal expenditure.

One Annual Registration/ Retention Fee (ARF) payment to support dentists with returning to work or remaining on the register.

Relocation expenses e.g. deposit and/ or rent in advance with evidence of tenancy agreements.

Indemnity payments for those returning to work after an absence (up to 3 months)

Verified costs towards retraining or development costs to assist with returning to dentistry.

Travel costs e.g. to university/ GDC meetings/ to work/ interviews.

Equipment  e.g. laptops/ white goods/ essential home adaptations or repairs.

Here are some examples where we are unable to offer financial support:

Assistance to other dental registrants or members of the dental team (DCPs) 

Assistance to those living outside the UK

Those living in the UK who wish to become registered by equivalent
Business-related costs

Legal costs with the exception of  bankruptcy fees

Tuition fees/ postgraduate courses/ private school fees

Contributions towards debt including tax

Get Support in other ways

You can also get support with your wellbeing including counselling, legal and debt advice via our Assistance Programme in partnership with Health Assured through a 24/7 helpline, smartphone app or online wellbeing content.

Wellbeing Support

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.