The Worshipful Society Of Apothecaries General Charity Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £242,264 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £189,686 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (nomination-based)
• Grant Range: £400 - £1,500 per student
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (medical/pharmacy students); London (other charitable activities)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Apothecaries' Hall, Black Friars Lane, London, EC4V 6EJ

Phone: 020 7236 1189

Email:

• General: cos@apothecaries.org
• Charity-specific: charity@apothecaries.org
• Events: events@apothecaries.org

Website: www.apothecaries.org

Overview

The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries General Charity Limited (Charity Number 284450) was established in 1982 as the charitable arm of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, one of London's ancient livery companies founded by royal charter in 1617. The charity's annual income is approximately £242,000, with expenditure of around £190,000 supporting students in financial hardship and various medical charities. The charity operates primarily through its Master's Fund, which supported 88 students in 2024 across medical and pharmacy schools in England and Wales. The Society maintains its Hall in Blackfriars—the oldest extant livery company Hall in the City of London—and requires that 85% of its members hold medical or pharmaceutical qualifications. The charity's mission centers on promoting medical and pharmaceutical education and advancing public education in these fields.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Master's Fund - Medical Student Grants

• Amount: £1,000 - £1,500 per student (varies by medical school)
• Recipients: One or two medical students at every medical school in England and Wales
• Target: Final year students (typically Years 3-6) facing financial hardship
• Application: Through medical school nomination only—no direct applications accepted
• 2024 Support: 88 students supported

Pharmacy Student Grants

• Amount: Not publicly specified
• Recipients: Small number of pharmacy students recommended by Pharmacist Support
• Application: Through Pharmacist Support recommendations to trustees

Medical Elective Scholarships (Rhino Elective Awards)

• Amount: £400 per scholarship
• Eligibility: Medical students within their final 3 years of training
• Purpose: Support for medical electives with creative approaches
• Requirement: Post-elective report submission
• 2025 Recipients: 11 students selected

Research Grants - Friends of the Collections

• Amount: Up to £500 per grant
• Number: Up to 2 grants awarded annually
• Purpose: Support researchers using the Society's historical collections

Other Educational Support

• Student at Guildhall School of Music
• Prizes at Christ's Hospital School
• Prizes at London medical schools
• Prizes at City of London Academy, Southwark

Priority Areas

• Medical and pharmaceutical education
• Students facing financial hardship during final years of training
• History of medicine research and education
• City of London charitable institutions
• Medical research and educational activities

What They Don't Fund

Information about exclusions is not publicly detailed, but based on their stated objectives:

• Organizations or individuals outside medical/pharmaceutical education sectors
• Unsolicited applications from individual students (must go through institutions)
• Projects unrelated to medicine, surgery, pharmacy, or education

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Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure

The charity is governed by the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, which serves as the board of trustees. There are 18 trustees who receive no remuneration for their service.

Leadership Roles:

• The Master: Elected annually at the Court meeting in August; serves a one-year term
• Senior and Junior Wardens: Each serve one-year terms
• Court of Assistants: Comprises the Immediate Past Master, Past Masters, Below-the-Chair Assistants, Honorary Treasurer, and the Clerk
• Private Court: Made up of the Master, Senior & Junior Wardens, Honorary Treasurer, Dean, Clerk, and Head of the Academic Department

The governance follows the traditional livery company model with the Master as chief officer, supported by Wardens and a Court of Assistants who collectively serve as charity trustees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This charity does not have a public application process. The Society does not accept unsolicited funding applications from individuals or organizations.

For Medical Students:

Medical students cannot apply directly. Instead:

• Each medical school in England and Wales nominates one or two students annually
• Medical schools typically announce the opportunity in spring
• Students apply internally to their medical school (e.g., through Student Support offices)
• Faculty advisors and Programme Directors review internal applications
• Medical schools nominate selected candidates to the Society
• The Society's trustees make final award decisions

For example, Bristol Medical School asks students to submit a 250-word application to their medical school's support office. UCL asks schools to propose three Year 5 or Year 6 students to receive a maximum of £1,500 each.

For Pharmacy Students:

Pharmacy students are recommended to the trustees by Pharmacist Support rather than through a direct or school-based application process.

For Research Grants:

Applications for the Friends of the Collections research grants should be directed through the Society's website or by contacting the Clerk.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made by the Court of Assistants (trustees) who meet periodically throughout the year. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed as the process is nomination-based rather than application-based.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable in the traditional sense, as this is a nomination-based rather than competitive application process. In 2024, 88 students were supported, representing approximately one or two students from each medical school in England and Wales.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as there is no public application process. Students are selected through their medical schools each year.

Application Success Factors

For Medical Schools Nominating Students:

Given the Society's stated purpose and approach, medical schools should consider nominating students who:

1. Demonstrate genuine financial hardship: The Master's Fund explicitly exists to support students “in financial difficulties in the final years of the course.” Schools should prioritize students with documented financial challenges that could impact degree completion.

1. Are in final years of training: Most grants target students in Years 3-6, with emphasis on those closest to qualification. Bristol Medical School specifies Year 3 or Year 4, while UCL focuses on Years 5 or 6.

1. Show potential to complete their studies: Since the charity's purpose is to “support students in completing their studies,” nominees should be students whose financial difficulties might otherwise prevent graduation.

1. Align with the Society's heritage: Founded in 1617 to recognize "apothecaries' specialist skills in compounding and dispensing medicines," the Society values the advancement of medical and pharmaceutical practice.

For Students Seeking Support:

Students should:

• Contact their medical school's Student Support office or equivalent
• Watch for announcements in spring
• Prepare a clear, concise statement (often around 250 words) explaining financial circumstances
• Focus on genuine hardship rather than general student financial challenges
• Be in the final years of training when financial pressure often peaks

Evidence from Practice:

The charity's focus on “making a difference” extends beyond monetary value—as stated on their website: "it isn't just the monetary value of the donation that makes a difference, but it's the fact that somebody cares." This suggests they value holistic student support and the psychological benefit of knowing someone supports their educational journey.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No direct applications accepted: This charity operates exclusively through institutional nominations and trustee discretion—individual students and organizations cannot apply directly
• Work through medical schools: Medical students seeking support must apply through their institution's internal process, not to the Society directly
• Timing matters: Medical schools typically announce opportunities in spring; students should monitor their school communications
• Financial hardship is central: The Master's Fund specifically targets students facing financial difficulties that could impede degree completion
• Final years prioritized: Most support goes to students in Years 3-6 of medical training
• City of London connection: The Society maintains its charitable focus on City of London institutions and medical/pharmaceutical education
• Relationship-based funding: As a traditional livery company charity, funding decisions are made by the Court of Assistants based on nominations from trusted partners rather than competitive applications

References

• Society of Apothecaries - Master's Fund
• Society of Apothecaries - Bursaries
• Society of Apothecaries - Awards
• Society of Apothecaries - Who We Are
• Society of Apothecaries - What We Do
• Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 284450
• Bristol Medical School - Worshipful Society of Apothecaries Grant
• UCL Medical Student Money
• Worshipful Society of Apothecaries - Wikipedia
• The Scholarship Hub - Educational Grants from Livery Companies