The Twj Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £42,000-£66,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive interview process)
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (January application to March interview)
• Grant Range: £750 - £27,500
• Geographic Focus: UK and Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

• Website: www.twjfoundation.org
• Email: applications@twjfoundation.org (for Short Fellowship applications)
• Phone: 020 7404 8373
• Address: Royal College of Surgeons of England (for interviews)

Overview

Founded in 1954 and registered as a charity in 1974, The TWJ Foundation promotes the sciences of otology and audiology to help patients with deafness overcome their disability. Established by Mrs. Lilian Wickham Higgs in honor of her deaf father Thomas Wickham-Jones, the Foundation has distributed close to £1 million over 50+ years, supporting over 200 young ENT surgeons through fellowships and grants. With annual giving of approximately £42,000-£66,000, the Foundation focuses on providing educational and research opportunities for ENT medical professionals, audiologists, and hearing therapists. The Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary as a registered charity in 2024 and proudly notes that “more than fifty per cent of currently practising British otologists have benefited in some way from receiving a TWJ grant.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major TWJ Fellowships: £27,500 tax-free educational stipend

• 6-12 month clinical and research fellowships at overseas university ENT departments
• Annual application deadline: Early January
• Interview at Royal College of Surgeons: March
• 2-3 fellowships awarded annually

CWJ Short Fellowship Grants: £750 - £1,000

• One-week clinical observation at leading European Otology Clinics
• Rolling applications accepted year-round via email
• 2-4 fellowships awarded annually

Small Grants: Variable amounts

• Conference and educational grants for advanced otological courses
• Research grants for ENT Specialty Registrars
• Travel awards and equipment purchase support
• Thesis grants

Michael Cook Tinnitus Fund: Variable amounts

• Development of tinnitus clinics and facilities
• Training and research in tinnitus and audiological medicine
• Funds the Pat Jobson Prize awarded annually

Priority Areas

• Clinical excellence in otology
• Research in hearing disorders and deafness
• Professional development for ENT surgeons
• Audiological medicine advancement
• Tinnitus treatment and research
• International collaboration in otological practice

What They Don't Fund

• Non-medical professionals outside ENT/audiology fields
• Organizations or institutional overhead
• Projects outside UK and Republic of Ireland
• General medical training not specific to otology/audiology
• Undergraduate medical education

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Chair: Martin Bailey - Retired Consultant Paediatric Otolaryngologist, former Great Ormond Street Hospital, Secretary-General of European Society of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

Vice-Chair: Chris Aldren - Consultant Otolaryngologist at Windsor ENT, Past President of Live International Otolaryngology Network

Medical Trustees: Professor Shakeel Saeed (Emeritus Professor of Otology & Neurotology, UCL), Emma Stapleton (Consultant Otologist & Skull Base Surgeon)

Family Trustees: Patrick Humphris (Head of Corporate Affairs, CVC Capital Partners), Professor Mark Wickham-Jones (University of Bristol), Tom Wickham-Jones (Director of Kernel Technology, Wolfram Research)

President: David Wright (Co-founder, retired as Trustee in 2021)

The Foundation maintains that “Trainees now recognise that to hold a TWJ Fellowship is an achievement to be proud of” and emphasizes their role in shaping “the development of otology as a defined sub-speciality within ENT departments in the British Isles.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Major TWJ Fellowships:

• Online application through ENT UK web portal
• Required: Application form, condensed CV (max 4 pages), letter from Regional Training Programme Director, log book of procedures, two referee contacts
• Annual deadline: Early January (typically first Monday)
• Interview: March at Royal College of Surgeons of England

CWJ Short Fellowships:

• Email application to applications@twjfoundation.org
• Required: Covering letter explaining purpose, condensed CV (max 4 pages)
• Rolling basis - apply anytime

Small Grants:

• Contact via website for specific application requirements
• Variable timelines depending on grant type

Decision Timeline

• Major Fellowships: 2-3 months (January application to March interview/decision)
• Short Fellowships: Typically 4-6 weeks from application
• Small Grants: Variable, case-by-case basis

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, but highly competitive. The Foundation has awarded:

• 125+ Major Fellowships since 1974 (averaging 2-3 per year recently)
• Approximately 80 Short Fellowships historically
• Over 400 total grants across all programs

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated, but the Foundation encourages ongoing professional development and has supported some individuals multiple times at different career stages (e.g., as registrar then as consultant).

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and historical patterns:

• Demonstrate otological focus: The Foundation specifically seeks candidates committed to otology as a subspecialty, not general ENT practice
• Show research potential: Major Fellowship applications strengthened by research proposals aligned with host institution expertise
• Match host institution carefully: Recent fellows placed at recognized centers of excellence (Vancouver, Cambridge, UCSF, Toronto)
• Highlight patient impact: Emphasize how training will “help patients with deafness overcome their disability” - the Foundation's core mission
• Professional readiness: Must have passed FRCS examination for Major Fellowships; final-year registrars or new consultants for Short Fellowships
• Post-fellowship commitment: Articulate plans to implement learning within NHS practice upon return
• Strong references: Programme Director support is mandatory; choose referees who can speak to otological aptitude

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Elite recognition: TWJ Fellowship is considered prestigious - “an achievement to be proud of” - emphasize career commitment to otology
• Tax-free stipend: The £27,500 Major Fellowship is tax-free under current HMRC regulations, making it financially attractive
• Timing critical: Major Fellowship applications only accepted once yearly with fixed January deadline - plan ahead
• European focus for Short Fellowships: Specifically funds observation at Béziers, Nijmegen, Antwerp, and Zurich clinics
• Family foundation with professional rigor: Balance personal mission (helping deaf patients) with academic excellence
• Post-fellowship reporting required: Fellows must submit report within three months - factor this into planning
• NHS commitment valued: Foundation specifically supports those working within British National Health Service

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Colledge Family Memorial Fellowship Trust
• British Orthopaedic Association
• T F C Frost Charitable Trust
• THE PETER JOST CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• ACTACC
• The Guarantors of Brain
• The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia
• Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
• The Jean Shanks Foundation
• The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries General Charity Limited

References

• The TWJ Foundation Official Website. www.twjfoundation.org.
• The TWJ Foundation Fellowships Page. https://twjfoundation.org/fellowships/.
• The TWJ Foundation Applications Page. https://twjfoundation.org/applications/.
• Charity Commission Register. Charity Number 267212. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/267212.
• “Promoting the advancement of otology and audiology: a history of the Thomas Wickham-Jones (TWJ) Foundation.” PMC12303698.
• The TWJ Foundation Annual Reports 2023-2025. https://twjfoundation.org/annual-reports/.
• The TWJ Foundation Trustees Page. https://twjfoundation.org/trustees/.
• ENT & Audiology News articles on TWJ Foundation activities and fellowship recipients. Various dates 2023-2025