Smith Bradbeer Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £131,756 (year ending March 2025)
• Annual Income: £175,466
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified - contact trust directly
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Hampshire and Dorset (with national/international scope for Christian mission work)

Contact Details

Address: Smith Bradbeer & Co Ltd, 14-20 Bell Street, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8ZE

Phone: 01794 515555

Email: service@bradbeers.com / charity@bradbeers.com

Website: www.bradbeers.com/charitable-trust

Overview

The Smith Bradbeer Charitable Trust was established in 1997 as a grant-making charity funded through a percentage of trading profit donated annually by Smith Bradbeer & Co Ltd, a retail company with roots dating back to 1837. The trust operates with approximately £175,000 in annual income and distributes grants totalling around £130,000 per year. Its overarching mission is the advancement of the Christian Faith through financial relief, support, and intervention in circumstances that maximize opportunities for evangelism, teaching of the Christian Faith, and its ability to change lives. The trust makes grants to both organizations and individuals, with a particular emphasis on recipients who have local connections to churches in the Hampshire area or existing relationships with the trustees. No trustees receive any remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant programme focused on Christian mission and evangelism. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but the trust distributes approximately £130,000 annually to various organizations and individuals.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus: The advancement of the Christian Faith through:

• Evangelism and missionary work
• Teaching of Christian principles
• Christian education
• Relief of poverty, hardship, distress, age, and sickness (within a Christian context)

Geographic Priorities:

• Local focus on Hampshire and Dorset
• National and international Christian mission organizations
• Preference for recipients with local connections to Hampshire churches or existing trustee relationships

Recent/Current Beneficiaries (examples of supported organizations):

• Missionary Aviation Fellowship
• Southampton Asian Christian Fellowship
• Wycliffe Bible Translators
• Cinnamon Network
• Scripture Union
• Junction Church Eastleigh
• Operation Mobilisation
• Care & Relief for the Young

What They Don't Fund

The trust explicitly states it does NOT fund:

• Social action projects with no opportunity for teaching the Christian Faith
• Projects with no local connection to Hampshire churches or trustees
• Organizations without clear evangelical or Christian teaching components
• General charitable work that doesn't align with Christian mission objectives

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by four trustees (as of latest records):

1. Gregory John Lloyd Davies - Chair
2. Sarah Robinson
3. Trevor John Davies
4. Anthony Edward Davies

All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees appear to have close connections to the sponsoring company, Smith Bradbeer & Co Ltd, which has operated in Hampshire since the 1890s.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Smith Bradbeer Charitable Trust does not appear to have a formal public application process with published guidelines or application forms. Contact the trust directly to express interest:

• Email: charity@bradbeers.com or service@bradbeers.com
• Phone: 01794 515555

The trust's website states that applicants should have either:

• Local contact with churches in the Hampshire area, OR
• Existing connections with the trustees

Decision Timeline

No specific decision timelines or meeting schedules are publicly available. The trust operates on a fiscal year ending in March. Potential applicants should contact the trust directly to understand current timelines.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy has been published. Contact the trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's stated priorities and funding patterns, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Clear Christian Mission: The trust explicitly prioritizes “circumstances that maximise opportunities for evangelism, teaching of the Christian Faith, and its ability to change lives.” Projects must have clear Christian teaching components, not just social action elements.

1. Local Connections: Recipients “generally have local contact with Churches in the Hampshire area or with existing Trustees.” Applicants should clearly articulate connections to Hampshire churches or explain any existing relationships with trustees.

1. Evangelistic Opportunity: The trust's primary objective is advancement of the Christian Faith. Applications should demonstrate how funding will create opportunities for evangelism and faith teaching.

1. Mission and Education Focus: Given the supported organizations (missionary aviation, Bible translation, Scripture Union, etc.), the trust appears to favor mission work, Bible-based education, and evangelical outreach.

1. Individual and Organizational Grants: The trust makes grants to both individuals and organizations, suggesting flexibility in who can apply.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Religious Focus is Non-Negotiable: This trust exclusively funds Christian mission and evangelism. Social action projects without clear Christian teaching components will not be funded.

• Relationships Matter: Local connections to Hampshire churches or existing trustee relationships are strongly preferred. Build these connections before applying.

• No Public Application Process: This is a relationship-driven trust without formal application procedures. Direct contact and relationship building are essential.

• Modest Scale: With approximately £130,000 in annual distributions across multiple beneficiaries, expect modest grant sizes.

• Broad Geographic Scope for Mission: While based in Hampshire, the trust supports national and international Christian mission organizations.

• Contact Directly: Given the lack of published guidelines, direct communication with the trust is necessary to understand current priorities and application procedures.

• Mission-Focused Organizations Succeed: The pattern of beneficiaries (missionary aviation, Bible translators, evangelistic organizations) shows clear preference for mission-focused work.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, Smith Bradbeer Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1060418), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1060418/full-print

• Bradbeers, “Charitable Trust,” https://www.bradbeers.com/charitable-trust/

• Companies House, Smith Bradbeer & Company Limited (Company No. 00036724), https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00036724

• Bradbeers, “Our Heritage,” https://www.bradbeers.com/our-heritage/