Birmingham Royal Institution For The Blind

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,396,674 (charitable expenditure 2023-24)
• Total Income: £1,053,111 (2023-24)
• Geographic Focus: Birmingham area and England/Wales for individual grants
• Application Method: No public application process - grants awarded according to trustees' grants policy
• Grant Types: Organizational grants (primarily to linked charities) and individual grants

Contact Details

Address: Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, 49 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9TG

Phone: 0121 428 5055

Email: brib@qac.ac.uk

Website: www.brib.org.uk

Contact for Grant Enquiries: BRIB Administrator at the above address

Overview

Founded in 1848, the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind (BRIB) has supported the visually impaired community in Birmingham for over 175 years. Originally providing direct educational services for blind children, BRIB restructured in 1997 to become a grant-making charity. The organization now generates income from donations, legacies, and investments (£75,840 investment income in 2023-24) and awards grants according to a formal grants policy. BRIB is registered as both a charity (516477) and a company limited by guarantee (01900123), with 8 trustees and no paid staff receiving remuneration over £60,000. The organization operates primarily as a funder, providing both financial support and facilities to linked charities that deliver direct services to blind and visually impaired people in the Birmingham area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BRIB operates two distinct grant streams:

Organizational Grants

• Primary beneficiaries: Queen Alexandra College (QAC) and Focus Birmingham
• These organizations emerged from BRIB's 1997 restructuring and receive ongoing support
• BRIB provides both grants and facilities (site provision) to these linked charities
• Recent support includes funding for an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine for Focus Birmingham's Harborne site
• No publicly available grant amounts or application deadlines

Individual Grants

• Available to “blind persons resident in England and Wales who are in conditions of need, hardship, or distress”
• Preference given to persons with prior connection to BRIB
• Awarded according to the organization's grants policy
• No public information on grant amounts or application process

Priority Areas

• Education and welfare of blind and visually impaired people
• Supporting those significantly handicapped by defective vision or threatened by blindness
• Services in the greater Birmingham area
• Organizations providing direct services to the visually impaired
• Technology and equipment for early detection and support of sight loss
• Supported living and accommodation services

What They Don't Fund

Based on their charitable objects, BRIB does not appear to fund:

• Organizations outside the visual impairment sector
• Projects without a clear Birmingham or broader England/Wales connection
• General charitable causes unrelated to sight loss

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Governance and Leadership

Chair

Geoffrey Oakley - Chair of BRIB, provides leadership on strategic funding decisions and organizational direction

Board of Directors (as of 2024-25)

• Julie Marie Roberton - Secretary (appointed July 2023)
• Mark Jocelyn Abrams - Director (appointed October 2024)
• Matthew Roger Bullock - Director (appointed July 2023)
• Mark Paul Draisey - Director (appointed April 2024)
• Jane Edgerton - Director (appointed May 2022)
• Richard John Hindle - Director (appointed October 2016) - longest-serving current director
• Beverley Jessop - Director (appointed April 2024)
• Richard Duncan Percival - Director (appointed October 2024)
• Marc Barnaby Reeves - Director (appointed July 2024)

The board consists of 8 trustees who receive no remuneration for their service. The organization has undergone significant board renewal, with 5 of 9 directors appointed since April 2024.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

BRIB awards grants according to a grants policy determined by the trustees. The organization primarily supports two linked charities (Queen Alexandra College and Focus Birmingham) that emerged from its 1997 restructuring, plus makes individual grants to visually impaired people with preference for those connected to BRIB.

For organizational grants: BRIB's support goes almost exclusively to QAC and Focus Birmingham. There is no evidence of an open application process for other organizations.

For individual grants: BRIB has a grants policy document that clarifies how grants can be applied for, but this is not publicly available online. Individuals seeking support should contact the BRIB Administrator directly at the address above or via brib@qac.ac.uk to request information about the grants policy and application process.

Decision Timeline

No public information available about decision timelines for grants.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process for organizational grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process for organizational grants.

Application Success Factors

Since BRIB does not operate a public grant application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand BRIB's funding approach should note:

For Organizations:

• BRIB's approach is to “maximize reach” by channeling support through other organizations rather than providing direct services
• The organization values long-term partnerships - both QAC and Focus Birmingham have received continuous support since 1997
• BRIB supports both operational funding and capital equipment (as evidenced by the OCT machine grant to Focus Birmingham)
• The organization provides both financial grants and facilities/site provision
• Support is targeted at organizations delivering direct services to visually impaired people in the Birmingham area

For Individuals:

• Geographic connection to Birmingham area or broader England/Wales residence
• Demonstrable need, hardship, or distress related to visual impairment
• Prior connection to BRIB increases likelihood of support (explicitly stated preference)
• The grants policy document provides specific guidance - contact BRIB to obtain this

From Leadership:

Geoffrey Oakley, BRIB Chairman, commenting on the OCT machine funding for Focus Birmingham, emphasized BRIB's role in supporting organizations that provide early detection and support services for sight loss, indicating the organization's interest in preventative and diagnostic capabilities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not a public funder: BRIB does not operate an open grant application process for organizations. Organizational grants go primarily to two linked charities (QAC and Focus Birmingham) that emerged from BRIB's 1997 restructuring
• Individual grants available: BRIB does make individual grants to visually impaired people in conditions of need, with preference for those connected to BRIB - individuals should contact the organization directly
• Strategic approach: BRIB's model is to provide both financial support and facilities to partner organizations that deliver direct services, rather than providing services directly
• Long-term partnerships: The organization favors sustained support relationships rather than one-off grants to multiple organizations
• Equipment and capital funding: BRIB has supported capital purchases such as medical equipment, not just operational grants
• Birmingham focus with broader reach: While concentrated on the Birmingham area, individual grants can extend to England and Wales
• Request the grants policy: The formal grants policy document is the authoritative source but is not publicly available - contact BRIB directly to obtain it

References

• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 516477: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=516477&subid=0
• Companies House, Company Number 01900123: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01900123
• BRIB Official Website: https://www.brib.org.uk/
• BRIB About Page: https://www.brib.org.uk/about.htm
• BRIB How We Help Page: https://www.brib.org.uk/how-we-help.htm
• Queen Alexandra College News: "Leading Charities for Blind People Move In to brib's Site in Harborne": https://www.qac.ac.uk/news/leading-charities-for-blind-people-move-in-to-bribs-site-in-harborne/28.htm
• Charity Today News: “OCT Machine installed, helps NHS with early diagnosis and referrals”