The Barbers' Company General Charities

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £259,174 (2024)
• Total Income: £243,425 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program
• Grant Range: £500 - £2,500 (individual awards); £40,000 (total annual program allocation)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with preference for City of London

Contact Details

Address: Barber-Surgeons' Hall, Monkwell Square, London, EC2Y 5BL

Phone: 020 7606 0741

Email: office@barberscompany.org / clerk@barberscompany.org

Website: www.barberscompany.org

Charity Number: 265579

Overview

The Barbers' Company General Charities, registered in 1973, is one of three charitable funds administered by The Worshipful Company of Barbers, one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London (first recognized in 1308, ranked 17th of 113 livery companies). With an annual expenditure of £259,174, this fund focuses specifically on educational grants and general donations for charitable purposes. The charity operates as a “last resort” funder, supporting individuals and organizations after they have exhausted statutory benefits and other better-endowed charities. Their strategic approach emphasizes medical education extensively but explicitly excludes medical research, with particular interest in projects connected to the City of London. The charity is governed by a single trustee with no remuneration or employee costs, ensuring maximum charitable impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Barbers' Company General Charities operates several distinct funding streams, most administered through partner organizations:

McNee Awards: Approximately £40,000 per annum total allocation

• For mature medical students who already hold a non-medical degree and do not qualify for student loans
• All candidates are interviewed
• Applications through BMA Charities (contact: m.flint@bmacharities.org.uk)
• Application packs available November 1 to mid-January
• Primarily for students at London teaching hospitals
• Also open to Physician Associate course students (can contact Barbers' Company directly)

Ronald Raven Barbers' Award: Up to £2,500 per award (two awards available)

• For trainee fellows/members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
• Supports surgeons traveling abroad to learn new surgical techniques
• Applications through Royal College of Surgeons
• Also available to medical artists for educational projects (apply through Medical Artists' Education Trust)
• Award cycle: Closed until Autumn 2026
• Contact: research@rcseng.ac.uk

Clinical Nursing Scholarships: Amount not publicly disclosed

• Partnership with University of East Anglia (administered since 2021, previously University of Warwick until 2020)
• Encourages qualified nurses to undertake research projects connected to clinical work
• For Masters or PhD studies in nursing/midwifery
• Applications through School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia

Medical Electives Support: Up to £1,000 per student

• For medical and dental students undertaking electives abroad
• Applications through British Medical and Dental Students' Trust via Royal Society of Medicine
• Students must be carrying out specific research or study projects

Dame Clare Marx Fellowship: Approximately £50,000

• Named after Dame Clare Marx at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
• For research into anatomy learning
• Applications through Royal College of Surgeons

Medical Artists' Association Bursary: Amount not publicly disclosed

• Annual bursary towards cost of studies for Medical Artists' Association members
• Applications through Director of Education, Medical Artists' Education Trust

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Medical education (but not medical research - “too expensive”)
• Educational grants, especially projects in the City of London
• Secondary education assistance for individuals who have “fallen on hard times unexpectedly”
• Relief of suffering
• Supporting London and City-related causes

Specific Considerations:

• Projects that reduce “unmet need”
• Initiatives where the charity's contribution receives full recognition
• Projects aligned with wishes of the Master and Court/Livery members
• Specific components of larger projects rather than general support

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Medical research (explicitly stated as too expensive for their resources)
• Large, well-endowed charities
• Projects where their contribution would be insignificant relative to total cost
• General donations to large cancer or AIDS charities
• General appeals from organizations that should be supported by statutory agencies
• Repeat applications from the same organization without evidence of exhausting other sources

Important Principle: The charity positions itself as a “last resort” funder - applicants must demonstrate they have exhausted all statutory benefit agencies and other better-endowed charities before applying.

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Governance and Leadership

The Barbers' Company General Charities is governed by a single trustee structure with no trustee remuneration or benefits. The charity is administered by the Worshipful Company of Barbers at Barber-Surgeons' Hall.

Key Administrative Contacts:

• Clerk: Available at clerk@barberscompany.org or office@barberscompany.org

The Worshipful Company of Barbers maintains a traditional livery company governance structure including a Master (rotates annually), Wardens, the Court, and the Clerk as chief administrative officer. Specific current officeholders are not publicly listed.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Barbers' Company General Charities does not operate a direct public application process. All grant applications are made through specific partner organizations depending on the type of award:

For Medical Students:

• McNee Awards: Apply through BMA Charities (m.flint@bmacharities.org.uk)
• Application packs available November 1 to mid-January
• All candidates interviewed
• Physician Associate students may contact Barbers' Company directly

For Surgeons:

• Ronald Raven Barbers' Award: Apply through Royal College of Surgeons (research@rcseng.ac.uk)
• Currently closed until Autumn 2026
• Requires applicant form, CV, and two support letters (one from current department head, one from destination unit head)

For Nurses:

• Clinical Nursing Scholarships: Apply through University of East Anglia, School of Health Sciences

For Medical/Dental Students:

• Medical Electives: Apply through British Medical and Dental Students' Trust via Royal Society of Medicine

For Medical Artists:

• Bursaries and Awards: Apply through Director of Education, Medical Artists' Education Trust

For Other Charitable Purposes:

• Contact the Clerk directly at clerk@barberscompany.org or office@barberscompany.org
• Be prepared to demonstrate that all statutory benefits and other better-endowed charities have been exhausted

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program:

• McNee Awards: Applications open November 1; decisions typically made by early spring
• Ronald Raven Barbers' Award: Two-year cycle (next opening Autumn 2026); awards typically for one academic year, potentially two in special circumstances
• Other Programs: Timelines not publicly specified; contact partner organizations for details

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the charity's approach as a “last resort” funder and the interview requirement for McNee Awards suggests a competitive process with thorough vetting.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. However, the charity's guidelines emphasize that they avoid funding the same organizations repeatedly without evidence of exhausting other funding sources, suggesting successful reapplication requires demonstrating ongoing need and exhaustion of alternative sources.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrating “Last Resort” Status:

The charity explicitly states it is a “last resort” funder. Successful applicants must clearly demonstrate they have:

• Exhausted all statutory benefit agencies
• Approached other better-endowed charities
• Genuinely explored all alternative funding sources

Geographic Connection:

The charity “looks kindly on projects in the City of London, especially those connected with education.” If your project has any connection to the City of London, emphasize this.

Focus on Unmet Need:

The charity prioritizes reducing “unmet need” rather than supporting well-funded initiatives. Applications should clearly articulate:

• What specific need exists
• Why existing support systems are insufficient
• How the charity's contribution will make a meaningful difference

Educational Focus:

With medical education as the primary focus, applications should emphasize educational outcomes rather than research. The charity is explicit: they support “medical education extensively but not medical research.”

Unexpected Hardship Narrative:

For secondary education support, the charity aims to help “those who have fallen on hard times unexpectedly.” Applications should demonstrate unforeseen circumstances rather than longstanding challenges.

Recognition and Impact:

The charity seeks “full recognition for charitable contributions.” Applications should explain how the funder will be acknowledged and how their specific contribution will be visible and impactful, even within larger projects.

Alignment with Livery Company Values:

As a traditional livery company charity, proposals aligned with the historical barber-surgeon heritage (medical education, surgical training, anatomical learning) are likely to resonate with trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Go Through Partners: This is not a direct-application charity for most grants. Identify the correct partner organization for your specific grant need and apply through them.

• Position as Last Resort: Only approach after exhausting statutory agencies and larger charities. Your application must convincingly demonstrate you've tried everything else first.

• Emphasize Education Over Research: Medical education is funded; medical research is not. Frame proposals in terms of learning, training, and education rather than research outcomes.

• Leverage City of London Connections: Any connection to the City of London should be prominently featured, especially for projects with educational components.

• Small Grants, Big Impact: Individual awards typically range from £500-£2,500. Show how a modest grant will make a disproportionate difference due to your specific circumstances.

• Focus on Unmet Need: Articulate what gap exists in current provision and why the charity's contribution is essential to filling that gap.

• Plan for Timing: For McNee Awards, applications open November 1. For Ronald Raven Awards, the next cycle opens Autumn 2026. Other programs operate on rolling or partner-determined timelines.

References

1. The Charity Commission - THE BARBERS' COMPANY GENERAL CHARITIES (265579).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=265579&subid=0

1. The Worshipful Company of Barbers - Guidelines for Charity Giving.. https://barberscompany.org/guidelines-for-charity-giving/

1. The Worshipful Company of Barbers - Charitable Activities.. https://barberscompany.org/charitable-activities/

1. The Worshipful Company of Barbers - How To Apply.. https://barberscompany.org/how-to-apply/

1. The Worshipful Company of Barbers - Education.. https://barberscompany.org/education/

1. Royal College of Surgeons of England - Ronald Raven Barbers' Award.. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/research/fellowships-awards-grants/awards-and-grants/travel-awards/ronald-raven-barbers-award/

1. University of East Anglia - The Barbers' Company Clinical Nursing Scholarship.. https://www.uea.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships/the-barbers-company-clinical-nursing-scholarship

1. The Scholarship Hub - Educational grants - the Livery companies.. https://www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk/educational-grants-livery-companies/

1. British Society of Gastroenterology - Barbers' Company Award for Trainees in Gastroenterology.. https://www.bsg.org.uk/news/barbers-award-for-trainees-in-gastro