British Record Industry Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £857,000 (£30m distributed over 35 years)
• Success Rate: Approximately 10% (10 grants awarded from estimated 100+ applications annually)
• Decision Time: 6-7 months (April deadline, November board decision)
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (majority), with occasional higher awards
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (no international funding)

Contact Details

Website: www.brittrust.co.uk

Email: brittrust@bpi.co.uk / trustapplication@bpi.co.uk

Phone: 020 7803 1300

Application Portal: Available for download at brittrust.co.uk/brit-trust-grants/

Overview

Founded in 1989 by UK record labels and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), The BRIT Trust is the principal charity of the UK recorded music industry. Over its 35-year history, the Trust has distributed more than £30 million through nearly 300 grants to causes that promote education and wellbeing through music and the creative arts. Funded primarily by The BRIT Awards and the Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS), which raised £1 million in 2024 alone, the Trust has recently expanded its remit from purely educational support to also incorporate mental health and wellbeing initiatives. The Trust's commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion underpins all its grant-making decisions, with Chair Tony Wadsworth CBE emphasizing that "The trustees take seriously their roles in upholding the Trust's values of accessibility, diversity and inclusion, and believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of music to change people's lives."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Annual Grant Round: Up to £10,000 (majority of grants), with occasional higher awards for significant projects
• Application Method: Fixed annual deadline (April 30th), with decisions made at November Trustees Board Meeting
• Distribution: Approximately 10 grants awarded annually
• Total Funding Pool: Varies annually based on BRIT Awards and MITS income

Priority Areas

The BRIT Trust considers applications that meet its mission statement: “improving lives through the power of music and the creative arts.” Specific areas include:

• Music education and training (including equipment provision for educational institutions)
• Music therapy programs and practitioner training
• Youth engagement through music (particularly for disadvantaged or at-risk young people)
• Mental health and wellbeing support through music
• Rehabilitation programs using music as a transformative tool
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives within music and creative arts
• Supporting access to music education for young people from all backgrounds

Recent Grant Examples:

• Equipment provision for The BRIT School's theatres
• Training for Nordoff and Robbins music therapists
• Building sound-proof studios for music students in Scotland
• Rehabilitation of young men in UK prisons through music (Key4Life)
• Mental health support for music industry professionals (Music Support)

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or scholarships
• Activities outside the UK
• Organizations without registered charity status
• Organizations without diversity and inclusion policies (or commitment to developing them)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair: Tony Wadsworth CBE

Deputy Chair: Mulika Sannie

Trustees:

• YolanDa Brown OBE DL
• Paul Burger OBE
• David Sharpe
• Henry Semmence
• Caroline Dollimore
• Rita Broe MVO
• Kwame Kwaten
• David Munns OBE
• Angela Watts
• Dan Chalmers
• Jessica Carsen

Leadership Insights

Tony Wadsworth has been vocal about the importance of creative arts education, expressing concern that "the decline in state funding of creative arts education threatens the UK's ability to nurture young, diverse creative talent and undermines the UK's talent pipeline.“ He has stated that ”Promoting education and creating positive opportunities for young people of all backgrounds through the transformative power of music is core to the BRIT Trust's ethos."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit Application: By April 30th deadline

Decision Timeline

• April 30th: Application deadline
• May-October: Grant Committee evaluates applications
• November: Trustees Board Meeting reviews recommendations and makes final decisions
• Post-November: Successful applicants notified and due diligence completed before grants confirmed
• Total Timeline: Approximately 6-7 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

• Applications Received: The Trust notes that "requests for funding support typically far outweigh the Trust's ability to help all the causes that approach it"
• Grants Awarded: Approximately 10 per year
• Estimated Success Rate: Around 10% (based on competitive demand and limited awards)
• Historical Context: Nearly 300 grants awarded over 35 years

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly stated. Applicants should contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What the Grant Committee Evaluates

"The Trust's Grant Committee will review applications in light of its mission and the strength of the case being made, while also taking into account its long-term and other existing commitments and any grant-making priorities the Trustees may decide upon at any given time."

Essential Application Elements

Applications must clearly set out:

• Full details about the organization and its grant request
• The rationale and aims for any planned activity that a grant would enable
• A detailed description of the expected benefits
• Evidence of how likely these benefits are to be forthcoming
• Specific explanation of how benefits will be achieved

Diversity and Inclusion is Non-Negotiable

Beneficiaries must "actively promote and encourage diversity & inclusion within their organisation and to have a diversity and inclusion policy and/or be working towards implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives." This is a core requirement.

Examples of Funded Organizations

Long-term Major Beneficiaries:

• The BRIT School (£8.4m+ in cumulative support) - Free-to-attend performing and creative arts school in Croydon
• Nordoff and Robbins - UK's largest music therapy charity

Other Recent Recipients:

• ELAM (East London Arts and Music) - Games design, music, film and television college for 16-19 year-olds
• Key4Life - Rehabilitation program for young men in prison, using music and mentoring (reduced reoffending from 65% to 15%)
• Music Support - Counselling for music industry professionals with addictions or career-related mental health challenges

Strategic Tips

1. Demonstrate Measurable Impact: Successful applications like Key4Life show concrete outcomes (reoffending rates drop from 65% to 15%)
2. Align with Core Values: Explicitly connect your work to accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and the transformative power of music
3. Show How Music is Central: The Trust has expanded beyond pure education to mental health and wellbeing, but music must be the transformative tool
4. Be Realistic About Funding Levels: Most grants are under £10,000, so tailor your request appropriately
5. Avoid Jargon: Clearly explain your organization and project in accessible language
6. Evidence Your Diversity Work: Don't just say you value diversity—show your policies and initiatives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Competition is High: With only 10 grants awarded annually and high demand, applications must be exceptionally strong and mission-aligned
• Diversity is Mandatory: Without a DEI policy or clear commitment to developing one, your application won't be considered
• Think Long-Term: The Trust maintains long-term relationships with key beneficiaries (The BRIT School has received £8.4m+ over time)
• Music Must Be Central: Projects must use music and creative arts as the primary transformative tool, not just an add-on
• Demonstrate Concrete Outcomes: Show measurable benefits and realistic pathways to achieving them
• Plan Ahead: With an April deadline and November decision, successful applicants receive funding late in the year—plan your cash flow accordingly
• UK Registered Charities Only: Ensure your organization meets this fundamental eligibility requirement before investing time in the application

References

1. BRIT Trust Official Website - Home and About pages. https://brittrust.co.uk/
2. BRIT Trust Grants page. https://brittrust.co.uk/brit-trust-grants/
3. “BRIT Trust grants reach over £30 million” - BRIT Trust News, December 2024. https://brittrust.co.uk/news/12-2024/brit-trust-grants-reach-over-30-million/
4. “The BRIT Trust reveals distributions top £30m as latest grants round supports 10 charities” - Music Week, 2024. https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/the-brit-trust-reveals-distributions-top-30m-as-latest-grants-round-supports-10-charities/091016
5. BRIT Trust Trustees page. https://brittrust.co.uk/about/trustees/
6. "BRIT Trust Diaries: Tony Wadsworth on why the industry should celebrate the BRIT School's success" - Music Week. https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/brit-trust-diaries-tony-wadsworth-on-why-the-industry-should-celebrate-the-brit-school-s-success/091307
7. “The BRIT Trust appoints Tony Wadsworth as its new chair” - Music Week, 2021. https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/the-brit-trust-appoints-tony-wadsworth-as-its-new-chair/082701
8. Charity Commission Register - BRITISH RECORD INDUSTRY TRUST, Charity Number 1000413. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1000413&subid=0
9. BRIT Trust - Funding Scotland resource page. https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng52EAC/brit-trust
10. “The BRIT Trust announces grant funding for East London Arts and Music (ELAM)” - BRIT Trust News, December 2023. https://brittrust.co.uk/news/12-2023/the-brit-trust-announces-grant-funding-for-east-london-arts-and-music-elam/