The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement
Charity Number: 1003817
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £29,000 - £140,000 (varies by year)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: England
Contact Details
Email: CHARITIES@CALADINE.CO.UK
Phone: 01323 644579
Registered Address: c/o Caladine Ltd, 22 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1BF
Charity Number: 1003817
Overview
The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement was established in 1989 following a trust deed, operating as a private grant-making foundation. The settlement honors the legacy of Brian Mitchell, who trained as a baritone at The Guildhall School of Music and had a “lifelong love of the theatre and music,” with particular passion for supporting young performing artists. The charity operates through grant-making from income received from an investment portfolio, with total expenditure ranging from approximately £29,000 to £727,000 depending on the year, reflecting the variable nature of its grant distributions. The settlement has supported prestigious arts organizations including Glyndebourne, Shakespeare's Globe, and Brighton Early Music Festival. Brian Mitchell's favorite composers were Mozart and Britten, and his passion for opera and emerging talent continues through the settlement's work.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The settlement does not advertise specific grant programs or funding tiers. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees.
Priority Areas
Based on known grant recipients and Brian Mitchell's personal interests, the settlement appears to focus on:
- Opera and Classical Music: Support for opera houses and classical music festivals, particularly programs developing emerging artists
- Performing Arts: Theatre organizations and performing arts venues
- Young Artist Development: Cover artist programs, emerging performer initiatives, and early career support for musicians and performers
- Capital Projects: Infrastructure improvements for arts venues (e.g., filming equipment, backstage automation)
- Production Support: Funding for specific performances and productions
The settlement's charitable objects are broad: “to support or promote such charitable purposes as the trustees may in their absolute discretion determine.”
What They Don't Fund
Not publicly specified. Given the settlement's focus on arts and culture, particularly classical music and theatre, organizations outside these areas are unlikely to receive funding.

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Governance and Leadership
The settlement is managed by 4 trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits from the charity. The charity has no employees.
Known Trustee:
- Michael Conlon KC - Friend of Brian Mitchell and trustee of the charitable settlement
According to Michael Conlon KC, reflecting on Brian Mitchell's legacy to Glyndebourne: “Brian would have loved that it supports young talent!”
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process.
The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement operates through trustee discretion, with grants awarded to organizations chosen by the trustees rather than through an open application process. There is no application portal, published guidelines, or deadlines for grant submissions.
Contact may be made through the settlement's email address (CHARITIES@CALADINE.CO.UK), though there is no guarantee of response or consideration for unsolicited applications.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - grants are made at trustees' discretion rather than through scheduled application rounds.
Success Rates
Not applicable for public applications.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no formal application process exists.
Application Success Factors
Given the settlement's closed application process, organizations are most likely to receive funding if they:
- Align with Brian Mitchell's documented interests: Focus on opera, classical music (particularly Mozart and Britten), theatre, and support for emerging performing artists
- Have established reputations: Known grant recipients include major established institutions (Glyndebourne, Shakespeare's Globe, Brighton Early Music Festival)
- Support young talent development: Brian Mitchell was particularly passionate about “supporting young performing artists,” with specific interest in cover artist programs and emerging performer initiatives
- Demonstrate quality in the performing arts: The settlement has supported high-quality productions and programs
Michael Conlon KC emphasized that Brian “would have loved that it supports young talent,” indicating that programs demonstrating clear benefit to emerging artists are particularly aligned with the settlement's mission.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The settlement operates through trustee discretion with no public application process - unsolicited applications are unlikely to be successful
- Focus areas are strongly influenced by Brian Mitchell's personal interests: opera, classical music (especially Mozart and Britten), theatre, and emerging artist development
- Known beneficiaries are established, prestigious arts organizations rather than smaller grassroots groups
- The settlement particularly values programs that support young and emerging performing artists, including cover artist programs and early career development
- Grant amounts and frequency vary significantly based on the settlement's investment income and trustees' decisions
- Organizations in the opera, classical music, and theatre sectors in England are most aligned with the settlement's mission
- Building relationships with trustees or being recommended through existing networks may be the only viable path to funding
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References
- UK Charity Commission Register. (2025). THE BRIAN MITCHELL CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT - Charity 1003817. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1003817&subid=0
- Glyndebourne. (n.d.). A lasting gift - Brian Mitchell's story. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://www.glyndebourne.com/fundraising/a-lasting-gift-brian-mitchells-story/
- Brighton Early Music Festival. (n.d.). Our Funders. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://www.bremf.org.uk/our-funders/
- OpenCharities. (2025). THE BRIAN MITCHELL CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from http://opencharities.org/charities/1003817