About us

Our mission is: We proactively support the financial and emotional needs of dental students, dentists and their dependents.

Our aim is to give short-term help in difficult times, so you can move forward with confidence.


⚠️ This form does not store any personal identifying information. Your responses are used only to guide you to the right type of support.


Please note: we will be closed from 18 December 2025 to 5 January 2026 and will not be considering applications during this time.

Who and how we help

Wellbeing support


If you are seeking help with your wellbeing, you can do so at any time through the information and resources on our website. This includes use of a 24/7 helpline and access to the free online portal and app through our partner - Health Assured. 

You do not need to complete an application form for this type of support.

The Wellbeing Support for the Dental Teams: A UK guide is a free resource that signposts to other services and organisations.

Financial support

To access financial assistance, you will be from one of the following categories;
an undergraduate BDS/ BChD dental student (who has already started the course), or
a current or previous dentist who is (or was) registered with the GDC, or 
a current or previous dentist (through registration, qualification or equivalent) and who has asylum seeker or refugee status (including humanitarian protection and the resettlement scheme), or
a dependent of a dentist/ dental student such as a husband or wife, the spouse, partner, widow/er or responsible for children of a dentist). 

You must live in the UK. 

❌ We cannot currently support other dental care professionals or international dentists who are not refugees/asylum seekers.

Financial assistance is offered to those that cannot meet their current personal expenditure based on their income from earnings/state benefits/ student finance and/ or through savings. We ask those that have more than £10,000 (excluding monies put aside for tax) use their own funds before applying.

We are independent of the BDA -you do not need to be a member of the BDA to request help.

What you’ll need before you start

We ask questions about your current financial situation including savings/ debts and your monthly income and expenditure. You will also need to upload your bank statements for all your accounts for you (and your partner) covering the last three months to confirm the details in your form are accurate.

The questions below will take you to the right application form.

Thank you for your interest in the BDA Benevolent Fund. However, we are unable to offer any assistance as applicants must currently live in the UK to be eligible for our support.


If you wish to contact us please email info@bdabenevolentfund.org.uk


Wellbeing
Please visit our website for free wellbeing support at any time.

Dental student
Click here to access the dental student form. You should have already started the course to be eligible. 
Dentist
Click here to access the dentist form. 
Asylum seeker / refugee dentist
Click here to access the asylum seeker/refugee dentist form. 
Dependent
Click here for the dependents form. You should be a husband/partner/spouse/ widow(er) or wife or the adult responible for the child(ren) of a dentist/dental student. 
 
Sorry but we cannot financially assist you
You answers suggest you are not eligible for financial assistance from this Charity. To be eligible for support you must be:
  • living in the UK
  • a dental student, dentist, refugee or asylum seeker dentist or a dependent
  • currently experiencing financial difficulty - you have insufficient income or savings to manage your essential living costs.

If you wish to contact us please email info@bdabenevolentfund.org.uk