Seven years ago, we established The Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust to support young people from backgrounds of social and educational disadvantage in their applications to study Medicine at university. Those underrepresented at medical schools include people of colour, young people living in the most deprived areas of England and areas with the lowest participation in higher education (HE), state school students, students whose parents do not have HE qualifications, and people with disabilities.

Research published by The Sutton Trust in early 2025 found that although the proportion of medical students from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds more than doubled since 2012, they still accounted for just 5% of entrants in 2021. In contrast, 75% were from higher socio-economic backgrounds, based on their parents’ occupation. Similarly, research from the Medical Schools Council published in late 2024 found that schools with high proportions of students eligible for Free School Meals, located in more deprived areas, and with lower average A-level points scores, still face barriers in producing medical school applicants. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies in early 2024 found that among UK-trained junior doctors, only 3% were Black and among UK-trained consultants, the share who were Black was just 1%. Thousands of disadvantaged students are being restricted from reaching their potential and the demographic of the UK’s medical profession does not mirror the population it serves.

Across the UK, widening participation in medicine initiatives aim to ensure the full talent pool of applicants is utilised, produce a diverse and representative workforce, improve social mobility, redress inequalities, promote social mobility, and ensure social justice. Since 2018, in the East Midlands, where Tom grew up and a region which produces amongst the lowest number of successful entrants per school or college, The Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust has worked with In2MedSchool, MedicHut, Melanin Medics, the Armitage Foundation and the University of Nottingham to support students from backgrounds of social and educational disadvantage with their applications to medical school. We are also currently making plans with the new medical school that is being established at the University of Derby to support their widening participation initiatives in Derbyshire.

Through our partnerships, The Tom Donaldson Charitable Trust aims to provide information and practical experience to students wishing to apply to medical school who would otherwise struggle to access it, thereby strengthening their applications. On a local level, we are making our own, small contribution to breaking down the barriers that restrict thousands of disadvantaged students from reaching their potential and mean the demographic of the UK’s medical profession does not mirror the population it serves.