Cameron Fund

The Cameron Fund, established in 1970 following a campaign by Sir James Cameron, is the UK's only medical benevolent charity dedicated exclusively to relieving poverty, hardship, and distress among current and former general practitioners (GPs)—including those in training and retired—and their spouses, partners, children, and dependants. Its mission centers on providing compassionate, confidential, and practical financial assistance to GPs facing crises from ill-health, disability, bereavement, relationship breakdown, job loss, or inadequate retirement pensions, guided by values of medical community solidarity, prompt unbiased support, and responsible stewardship of resources.

The Fund prioritizes direct aid for essential living costs through grants and loans for short- or long-term needs, alongside money advice, advocacy, career coaching for those unable to return to practice, and educational support like undergraduate grants for dependent children (£34,000 total in 2023) or school expenses such as uniforms (£8,400 in 2023). It responds to referrals from Local Medical Committees and partners with NHS Practitioner Health for mental health cases, focusing solely on individuals in financial hardship linked to NHS service, with beneficiaries spanning practising and retired GPs UK-wide.

Eligible applicants are individuals only—no organisations—with no income thresholds or geographic limits within the UK; they must first pursue state and local benefits. Applications via online form are accepted year-round, reviewed with references and a trustee visit, then decided at quarterly Council meetings (emergency aid by Chair if needed); grants are need-based with no fixed range. Exclusions include medical research, service development, or community projects. Distinctive for its sector-specific focus, equitable UK trustee representation, swift confidentiality, and deep NHS networks, it ensures specialist support where none other exists.