Frank Brake Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1023245

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Expenditure: £995,022
  • Charitable Expenditure: £924,790
  • Total Income: £5.65 million (including investments)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly (multi-year grants of £15,000 to major capital donations)
  • Geographic Focus: Kent (particularly Ashford and South East Kent), with some national causes
  • Application Type: Family-directed, no public application process

Contact Details

Address: Gill Turner Tucker, 2 County Gate, Staceys Street, Maidstone ME14 1ST

Phone: 01622 759051

Email: michael.trigg@icloud.com

Overview

Established by Frank Brake, the food distribution pioneer who with his brothers built the successful international business Brake Bros (now known as Brakes), the Frank Brake Charitable Trust was created to support local and national causes in his memory following his death in 2018. The trust operates as a family-directed grant-making charity that "invites applications from the Frank Brake Family for funding of worthy registered charities each year with a particular emphasis on local charities where the family knows the charity's representative." With total assets generating significant investment income and charitable expenditure approaching £1 million annually, the trust has become one of the most significant private family trusts supporting Kent-based charities, with particular impact on health charities, community facilities, and organizations addressing inequality and exclusion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through two distinct mechanisms:

Direct Trust Grants: Made directly from the Frank Brake Charitable Trust to registered charities, typically for significant capital projects or multi-year support. These grants are awarded based on family connections and trustee discretion.

Frank Brake Community Fund (via Kent Community Foundation): Established in 2019, this fund has awarded over 130 grants totaling more than £500,000 to grassroots charities and community groups in Ashford and South East Kent.

Beacon Awards: Multi-year grants of £15,000 (spread over three years, so £5,000 per year) awarded to impactful Ashford-based organizations to support core operating costs. Recent recipients include:

  • Lily's Social Kitchen CIC
  • Step-Out Outdoor Learning
  • Wye Community Farm

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the trust supports:

Health and Medical Research:

  • Parkinson's disease research and support (supporting Cure Parkinson's since 2006)
  • MS therapy and treatment facilities
  • Medical research trials and imaging studies

Community Infrastructure:

  • Community halls and gathering spaces
  • Community farms
  • Sports facilities for younger generations

Social Inclusion:

  • Foodbanks
  • Community cafes
  • Organizations supporting people facing inequality and exclusion
  • Homelessness support

Geographic Priority: Strong emphasis on Ashford and South East Kent, with particular interest in local charities where the family knows the charity's representative.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the trust appears to focus on registered charities rather than individuals, with preference for:

  • Organizations with personal connections to the Brake family
  • Local Kent-based causes
  • Established charities rather than start-ups
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (5 trustees, none receive remuneration):

  • Mr. Michael Trigg - Contact trustee (michael.trigg@icloud.com)
  • Mr. Philip Riches Wilson
  • Mr. Richard Michael Brake - Family member
  • Mrs. Michelle Louise Leveridge

Michael Trigg also serves as Chair of the related William Brake Foundation (Charity 1023244), indicating the interconnected nature of the Brake family charitable activities.

Frank Brake Community Fund Board:

  • Steph Senior - Chair of Trustees
  • Works in partnership with Kent Community Foundation

The trust has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries, operating as a lean grant-making organization.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

According to the Charity Commission, the trust "invites applications from the Frank Brake Family for funding of worthy registered charities each year with a particular emphasis on local charities where the family knows the charity's representative." Applications are reviewed against specific criteria by the trustees before funds are released.

This means:

  • Grants are made to charities nominated by members of the Frank Brake family
  • There is no online portal or public application form
  • Priority is given to charities where the family has a personal connection with representatives
  • Unsolicited applications are unlikely to be successful without a family connection

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following are specific strategies based on this trust's documented approach:

Family Connections: Since the trust explicitly prioritizes "local charities where the family knows the charity's representative," building authentic relationships with Brake family members or trustees is the primary pathway. The family has known connections to:

  • The Kent business community (through Brake Bros/Brakes business networks)
  • Health charities, particularly Parkinson's and MS research organizations
  • Ashford and South East Kent community organizations

Kent Community Foundation Route: Organizations based in Ashford and South East Kent may have better success applying through Kent Community Foundation's general grant programs, as the Frank Brake Community Fund operates through KCF and may identify potential beneficiaries through that mechanism.

Direct Trustee Contact: Given the contact details are publicly listed (Michael Trigg via email/phone), organizations with a compelling local Kent project that aligns with the trust's documented priorities could make an introductory approach. However, this should be done respectfully, acknowledging the family-directed nature of the trust.

Existing Beneficiary Networks: Organizations like Kent MS Therapy Centre and Cure Parkinson's have long-standing relationships with the trust. Networking within circles of known beneficiaries may provide insights or introductions.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. As a family-directed trust, decisions are likely made at trustee meetings throughout the year rather than on fixed grant cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The trust operates on an invitation/nomination basis through family members.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Given the family-directed nature, ongoing relationships with beneficiaries appear to be valued (e.g., supporting Cure Parkinson's since 2006).

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept public applications, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, based on documented grant patterns:

Relationship-Based Funding: The trust's own documentation emphasizes "local charities where the family knows the charity's representative." Success appears to depend on:

  • Personal connections to Brake family members or trustees
  • Demonstrated track record and credibility in the Kent community
  • Alignment with causes the family personally values

Long-Term Partnerships: Evidence suggests the trust values sustained relationships with beneficiaries. Cure Parkinson's has received support since 2006, and Kent MS Therapy Centre is described as having received critical support over time.

Local Impact in Ashford/South East Kent: The Frank Brake Community Fund specifically targets this geographic area with over 130 grants focused on “causes which bring people together.”

Core Costs and Multi-Year Support: The introduction of Beacon Awards shows responsiveness to sector needs for unrestricted, multi-year funding to cover operating costs.

Community Cohesion Themes: Repeated emphasis on organizations that “bring people together,” including community halls, farms, sports facilities, foodbanks, and cafes supporting those facing exclusion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a Public Funder: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications - it operates through family nominations and trustee discretion based on personal relationships
  • Significant Private Funder: With charitable expenditure approaching £1 million annually, this is a major Kent-based private trust worth understanding even if direct application is not possible
  • Local Kent Focus Matters: Strong preference for Ashford and South East Kent organizations, particularly those with personal connections to the Brake family
  • Health and Community Infrastructure: Documented track record of supporting medical research (Parkinson's, MS) and community facilities that bring people together
  • Long-Term Relationships Valued: Evidence of sustained multi-year support to beneficiaries suggests the trust values ongoing partnerships over one-off grants
  • Explore Kent Community Foundation Route: Organizations in the target geography may have better access through KCF's Frank Brake Community Fund, which has made 130+ grants
  • Respectful Direct Contact Possible: While not a public funder, contact details are publicly listed, suggesting very targeted, well-aligned organizations could make respectful introductory contact via Michael Trigg

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