Brewers' Company General Charitable Trust

The Brewers' Company General Charitable Trust (BCGCT), administered by the historic Brewers’ Company—dating to the 13th century with a Royal Charter from 1438—delivers public benefit through grant-making rooted in stewardship of the brewing industry and wider philanthropy. Its mission emphasizes general charitable purposes, advancing public-benefiting education (especially in brewing, fermentation, and distillation), heritage preservation, and community welfare, guided by values of diversity, inclusion, tradition, and adaptability to modern social needs.

It prioritizes science and research in brewing (e.g., Zero Carbon Forum, Wye Hops, National Brewery Heritage Trust), educational bursaries (e.g., Aldenham School), veterans' and military charities (e.g., Army Benevolent Fund, Royal Navy Charity), mental health (MQ Mental Health Research), youth inclusion (Children’s Sailing Trust, Blind in Business), homelessness relief (Off the Streets), rural enterprise (Plunkett UK, Pub is the Hub), and archive safeguarding. Grants support projects, core costs, research, and unrestricted aid for organizations advancing industry heritage, education, vulnerable groups, and community resilience across England and Wales, with ties to London and the brewing/pub sector.

Eligible entities include charities of any size or income (small to national), with no geographic base required but focus on England/Wales; no religious restrictions. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—prospective grantees must phone or email the Livery Secretary (liverysecretary@brewershall.co.uk) first for eligibility discussion. The Court meets five times yearly for ad hoc decisions; Brewers' Research and Education Fund (BREF) has a 31 March deadline. Typical grants: £1,000–£10,000 (modest, e.g., £33,100 total in 2024). Distinctive for brewing-linked heritage support amid broader impact, excluding unrelated causes without prior alignment.