Drinks Trust
About This Funder
The Drinks Trust, founded in 1886 as The Benevolent by wine merchant Robert Gray, is the UK's leading charity dedicated to empowering current and former workers in the drinks and drinks-led hospitality industry, along with their families. Guided by values of openness, compassion, respect, equality, and empowerment, it provides confidential financial, emotional, practical, and wellbeing support to those facing hardship from illness, disability, mental health issues, addiction, or life events. Its distinctive approach integrates immediate welfare—via hardship grants for rent, bills, medical costs, funerals, disability aids, and essentials—with longer-term resilience through therapy, addiction services, and professional development like brewing, distilling, and WSET courses, fostering an equitable sector sustained by industry leaders and partnerships.
It prioritizes individuals across all roles and career stages in production, sales, on- and off-trade, with a focus on acute financial need or limited access to opportunities. Support spans UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) for those with at least 3 years' full-time (or 5 years' part-time) UK drinks industry employment, assessed case-by-case for families.
Grants typically range from £250 to £2,500, with education bursaries up to £1,500+; applications are rolling via online form requiring NI number, proof of employment, financial details via Open Banking, and hardship evidence—no EOI needed, processed quickly upon completion, paid directly to suppliers. Charities and organisations are ineligible; exclusions cover non-industry applicants, non-UK residents, and core/project funding. Uniquely tailored to the drinks workforce, its seamless blend of crisis aid, skills-building, and industry networks sets it apart for targeted, restorative impact.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
Writing your application?
Free guides on what funders look for, common mistakes, and how to stand out
How to apply to Drinks Trust
Skip weeks of research. Write a strong application this afternoon — in your own words, with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Check your match
Describe your charity once and see how well you fit Drinks Trust's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.
Draft with your AI co-pilot
Paste the application question and word limit. The co-pilot writes a first draft using your charity's real data and this funder's criteria — not generic filler. You edit every word before it leaves.
Review, refine, submit
Every answer runs through an 8-point quality check — clear ask, funder alignment, measurable outcomes, and more. You stay in control. The AI does the drafting; you make it sound like you.
Is Drinks Trust right for your charity?
See your compatibility score and find similar funders.
Free · No credit card required
Similar Funders
Other funders with a similar profile and grant range.
Browse Related Grants
Apply to Drinks Trust
Match, draft, and review — all in one place.
Free. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Drinks Trust provide?
Drinks Trust typically provides grants ranging from £250 - £2,500.
Where does Drinks Trust fund charities?
Drinks Trust funds charities operating in UK.
How do I apply for funding from Drinks Trust?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Drinks Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Drinks Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
Your next application could be finished today
Drinks Trust is one of 3,500+ UK funders in our database. See how well they match your charity, discover similar funders, and find the ones most likely to fund your work.
Free · No credit card required
You've explored 16 funders — let us find your best matches
Describe your charity once and we'll match you with the most relevant funders from 3,500+ UK grant-makers.