The Brewers Foundation

Charity Number: 1191766

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £145,627 (2023-24)
  • Total Income: £217,436 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies - includes both paint donations and financial grants from £50,000 annual pot
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Registered Charity: 1191766

Contact Details

Email: leigh.crowden@howespercival.com

Phone: 01603762103

Address: Albany House, Ashford Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3TR

Foundation Information: https://info.brewers.co.uk/the-brewers-foundation

Company Website: https://www.brewers.co.uk/about/community

For general Brewers enquiries:

  • Phone: 01323 576555
  • Customer Service: customer.service@brewers.co.uk

Overview

The Brewers Foundation (registered October 2020) is the charitable arm of Brewers Decorators Centres, a family business with over 120 years of history in the decorating industry. The Foundation distributes approximately £145,000 annually through a combination of financial grants and in-kind paint donations to transform vital community spaces. Led by Chair Neal Brewer and three additional trustees including Adam Shoesmith, David Thomson, and Simon Brewer, the Foundation supports UK-based charities and good causes through a mix of monetary grants (with an advertised £50,000 annual pot for applications) and product donations. The Foundation particularly focuses on projects that can be visually transformed through paint and decoration, though their charitable objects extend to poverty relief, education advancement, and health initiatives. Notable partnerships include long-term support for Challengers charity (supporting disabled children) to whom they donated £1 million in 2004 for a new playcentre in Farnham, and ongoing annual campaigns that have raised over £10,000 annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Financial Grants

  • £50,000 annual pot available for applications
  • Grant sizes vary based on project needs
  • Major historical grants: £1 million to Challengers (2004), £40,000 Royal Warrant charity funding (2022)

In-Kind Support - Paint Donations

  • Paint and decorating supplies donated to transform community spaces
  • Examples include 15L Dulux Diamond Matt, 60L paint donations, Albany Masonry Paint for community projects
  • Particularly suited to refurbishment and redecoration projects
  • “Vibrant Lives” campaign: 30p donated per purchase of Albany tinted colour (November-December annually), raising £10,000+ per year

Priority Areas

Based on charitable objects and funded projects:

  • Poverty Relief: Supporting community centres, food banks, homeless services, and projects serving disadvantaged communities
  • Education: Projects involving schools, children and young people's activities, skills development, and training programs
  • Health: Medical treatment and research, disability services, mental health and wellbeing initiatives
  • Community Transformation: Physical improvements to community spaces, arts projects, intergenerational programs
  • Disability Support: Long-term commitment to inclusive services for disabled children and adults

Priority Sectors and Beneficiaries

  • Community centres and facilities
  • Children and young people's charities
  • Disability charities (particularly inclusive play and learning)
  • Arts and cultural community projects
  • Homelessness and housing services
  • Skills training and employability programs
  • Local community initiatives across the UK

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, though the Foundation appears focused on UK-based charities where paint/decoration can add value or where there is strategic alignment with their family business values and community focus.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (4 total)

  • Neal Brewer - Chair
  • Adam Shoesmith - Trustee
  • David Thomson - Trustee
  • Simon Brewer - Trustee (also trustee of The CP Charitable Trust)

All trustees serve without remuneration. The Foundation operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts applications for grants from the £50,000 annual pot. According to their website: "If you are part of a project you think The Brewers Foundation could help with, you can apply for your share of this year's £50,000 pot."

Application Method: Contact via the Foundation page at https://info.brewers.co.uk/the-brewers-foundation or reach out directly to:

  • Email: leigh.crowden@howespercival.com
  • Phone: 01603762103
  • General customer service: customer.service@brewers.co.uk / 01323 576555

The application process and specific requirements are not detailed publicly on their website, suggesting an informal or relationship-based approach to grant-making.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Based on the size of the foundation and trustee governance structure, decisions likely made at trustee meetings throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With £145,627 in annual expenditure and a £50,000 advertised grants pot, plus ongoing paint donations and partnerships, the Foundation supports numerous projects annually.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation maintains long-term relationships with some charities (e.g., 20+ years supporting Challengers), suggesting reapplication and ongoing support is possible for successful partners.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and the Foundation's approach:

  1. Visual Transformation Potential: Projects involving refurbishment, redecoration, or physical improvement of community spaces appear particularly well-suited, as the Foundation can provide both funding and in-kind paint donations. Examples include community centre corridors, café spaces, and outdoor murals.
  1. Community Impact: Successfully funded projects serve broad community needs - Tarner Community Project (public arts workshops for entire community), Crawley Open House (55 people housed nightly plus day centre and food bank), Props café (training 60 adults with learning disabilities).
  1. Geographic Spread: While headquartered in Eastbourne, the Foundation supports projects across the UK through Brewers' network of 190+ stores, including Brighton, Bristol, Worcester, Crawley, and Farnham locations.
  1. Alignment with Core Values: Projects serving disadvantaged groups, children and young people, disability inclusion, and community cohesion align with both the Foundation's charitable objects and Brewers' family business values.
  1. Partnership Potential: Long-term relationships appear valued - the Challengers partnership has lasted 20+ years with repeated support. Projects that can demonstrate sustainable impact and ongoing partnership potential may be favoured.
  1. Measurable Outcomes: Funded projects demonstrate clear beneficiary numbers - “55 women and men every night”, “60 adults with learning disabilities”, “over 50 participants”, “1,000 young people aged 2-18”.
  1. Local Connection: Projects may benefit from connecting with local Brewers stores, as regional branches actively support community initiatives (e.g., Brewers Worcester, Brewers Gloucester, Brewers Brighton).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Combine asks strategically: If your project involves refurbishment/decoration, request both financial support and in-kind paint donations to maximize value and alignment with the Foundation's capabilities
  • Emphasize community transformation: Frame your project around how physical space improvements will transform lives and strengthen communities - this resonates with the Foundation's mission to “make the world a brighter place”
  • Demonstrate broad impact: Successful projects serve significant numbers of beneficiaries or entire communities, not narrow groups
  • Consider the business connection: With 190+ Brewers stores nationwide, highlighting how your project might connect with a local branch could strengthen your application
  • Think long-term: The Foundation values sustained partnerships (20+ years with Challengers) - emphasize how initial support could lead to ongoing collaboration
  • Be specific about beneficiaries: Include clear numbers and demographics of who will benefit, particularly if serving disadvantaged groups, disabled people, or children and young people
  • Contact directly: With limited public information about formal application processes, proactive outreach to leigh.crowden@howespercival.com or the customer service team is recommended to understand current priorities and application requirements

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