Frank Brake Charitable Trust

The Frank Brake Charitable Trust, established in 1993 by food distribution pioneer Frank Brake (founder of Brake Bros), is a family-led grantmaker dedicated to alleviating social and economic challenges, reducing inequality and exclusion, and enhancing grassroots opportunities, with a heartfelt commitment to his hometown of Ashford and South East Kent. Rooted in values of family involvement, integrity, community loyalty, and local generosity, it prioritises charities known personally to trustees or the Brake family, fostering a legacy of impactful giving through trustee-driven decisions and an investment-based approach to sustainability.

It funds a broad spectrum of general charitable purposes, emphasising community cohesion, health and wellbeing, social care, disability support, learning, and practical aid for the disadvantaged. Supported activities include capital projects (e.g., community halls, farms), ongoing services (foodbanks, cafes, hospices), youth sports/outdoor learning, and multi-year core costs via Beacon Awards for high-impact Ashford organisations. Grantees span local gems like Lily’s Social Kitchen CIC, Step-Out Outdoor Learning, and Wye Community Farm, alongside nationals such as NSPCC, Cure Parkinson’s Trust, and Pilgrims Hospices.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, or community groups based in the UK (strong priority for Ashford/SE Kent, open to England/Wales), favouring small-to-medium entities with incomes under £1M and demonstrable local impact. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—invitations come via Brake family or trustee connections only. Grants typically range £5,000–£50,000 (e.g., £10k–£25k one-offs, up to £15k over three years for Beacons), reviewed annually in trustee meetings with no fixed deadlines. Distinctively flexible on core funding and unrestricted by religion, it stands out for relationship-based access and passion for community-rooted change over open competitions.