Barbers' Company General Charities

Barbers' Company General Charities, governed by the Worshipful Company of Barbers and established under a 1973 trust deed, is a historic City of London livery company charity rooted in medical and surgical heritage. Its mission advances medical education—supporting undergraduate/postgraduate students, medical artists, and health professionals—while relieving hardship through pensions and aid for impoverished members of the medical profession, barbers' trade, and their families. Guided by values of fellowship, benevolence, and civic purpose, it prioritizes targeted, impactful giving as a funder of last resort, favoring visible contributions to unmet needs, especially in London, via grants to individuals and smaller organizations.

Funding emphasizes educational bursaries, specialized training (e.g., Ronald Raven Bequest for medical/surgical projects and Medical Artists’ Association), hardship payments, and City-connected initiatives throughout England and Wales, with a strong London preference. Beneficiaries include medical students/communities in financial distress and grassroots health-related causes.

Invite-only funding excludes unsolicited applications; decisions occur at adhoc committee meetings year-round (financial year ends 31 August), primarily via internal referrals from Company members. Eligible entities are smaller organizations or individuals who've exhausted statutory/larger charity resources; large, well-endowed, or household-name charities are unsupported. Typical grants range £1,000–£10,000, occasionally to £20,000 for equipment or initiatives.

Distinctively, it avoids medical research, core/unrestricted funding, and duplicative high-profile causes, focusing instead on personal/professional development in health fields, sustained welfare support, and heritage-aligned projects where its role is pivotal and attributable.