Drinks Trust
Could Drinks Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £250 – £2,500
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Online form
- Decisions
- Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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drinkstrust.org.ukAbout Drinks Trust
The Drinks Trust is a UK charity dedicated to empowering current and former workers in the drinks and drinks-led hospitality industry, along with their families. Founded in 1886 by wine merchant Robert Gray, the Trust operates with values of openness, compassion, respect, equality, and empowerment. It provides confidential financial, emotional, practical, and wellbeing support to industry members facing hardship. What makes the Drinks Trust distinctive is its integrated approach: combining immediate crisis welfare through hardship grants with longer-term resilience through professional development opportunities such as fully funded WSET courses. Support is available UK-wide for eligible individuals across all roles and career stages.
What Drinks Trust funds
The Drinks Trust funds two main areas: financial hardship support and educational development. Its Assist programme provides emergency grants for individuals with critical bills in arrears, including essential equipment and immediate needs. The DEVELOP programme, through the WSET Bursary, offers fully funded WSET courses for those facing financial hardship, with a focus on regions of poor social mobility. Support is available to members of the UK drinks hospitality industry across the entire country. Both programmes prioritise applicants who can demonstrate acute financial need.
Who can apply
The Drinks Trust supports individuals only – current and former workers in the UK drinks and drinks-led hospitality industry, along with their families. Applicants must be UK residents. The Assist programme prioritises those who can demonstrate critical bills in arrears, while the WSET Bursary targets individuals experiencing financial hardship, especially in areas of low social mobility. The Trust does not fund charities, organisations, or non-industry individuals. Immediate family members are not eligible for educational grants.
What Drinks Trust doesn't fund
The Drinks Trust does not fund charities, organisations, or non-industry individuals. It excludes private debt including credit cards, loans, and finance agreements; vet bills; insurance costs; and non-essential consumables. For educational grants, immediate family members of eligible individuals are not supported.
How they like to fund
The Drinks Trust offers confidential, individualised support through one-off hardship grants (Assist programme) and fully funded educational bursaries (WSET Bursary via DEVELOP). Every application is assessed on its own merit without prejudice. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible industry members.
How much does Drinks Trust give?
Drinks Trust runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 32 sourced facts
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~4 weeks
- Online portal
Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.
What Drinks Trust funds — and what they won't
Applicants who are able to demonstrate that they have critical bills in arrears will be prioritised.
The full exclusions list (2)
- Private debt including credit cards / loans / finance agreements. Vet bills. Insurance costs. Private medical. Non-essential consumables.
- Immediate family members are not eligible for educational grants.
Good to know
How to apply to Drinks Trust
Drinks Trust takes applications via online form.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Drinks Trust's application asks
We hold the 11 questions from Drinks Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“1. Evidence to show that you work or have worked in the drinks industry for 3 years full time or 5 years part time – e.g. pay slips, P60, or an employment reference letter.”
“2. Evidence of financial hardship and that you have NO SAVINGS – this will be gathered through an open banking process, a link will be provided.”
9 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Drinks Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Drinks Trust provide?
Drinks Trust runs 2 grant programmes — Assist (Financial Support): Up to £500 · WSET Bursary (DEVELOP Programme): Typically £463.
Where does Drinks Trust fund charities?
Drinks Trust funds charities operating in UK.
Does Drinks Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Drinks Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Drinks Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Private debt including credit cards / loans / finance agreements. Vet bills. Insurance costs. Private medical. Non-essential consumables.; Immediate family members are not eligible for educational grants.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Drinks Trust?
Drinks Trust takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online application form.
Similar funders
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Could Drinks Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.