The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £96,000 - £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: 07860628597

Registered Address: Round Oak, Old Station Road, Wadhurst, TN5 6TZ

Correspondence Address: c/o Caladine Ltd, 22 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1BF

Charity Number: 1003817

Overview

The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement was established following a trust deed dated 20th November 1989 and registered as a charity in 1991, operating as a private grant-making foundation. The settlement honours the legacy of Brian Mitchell, who trained as a baritone at The Guildhall School of Music and had a passion for theatre and music, with particular focus on 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 organisations including Glyndebourne, Shakespeare's Globe, and Brighton Early Music Festival. Brian Mitchell's favourite 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 programmes 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 programmes developing emerging artists
• Performing Arts: Theatre organisations and performing arts venues
• Young Artist Development: Cover artist programmes, 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, organisations outside these areas are unlikely to receive funding.

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Governance and Leadership

The settlement is managed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits from the charity. The charity has no employees.

Known Trustees:

• Brian Jack Mitchell FCA FRSA
• Andy Buss
• John Andrews
• Michael Conlon KC - Friend of Brian Mitchell and trustee of the charitable settlement
• Fraser Moore Reavell

According to Michael Conlon KC, describing Brian Mitchell: “He was a born actor and had a fine baritone voice” and “His performances for the Tunbridge Wells Opera and Dramatic Society were legendary.” Reflecting on Brian Mitchell's legacy to Glyndebourne: “Brian would have loved that it supports young talent!”

How to Apply to The Brian Mitchell Charitable Settlement

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 organisations 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, organisations 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 programmes and emerging performer initiatives
• Demonstrate quality in the performing arts: The settlement has supported high-quality productions and programmes

Michael Conlon KC emphasised that Brian “would have loved that it supports young talent,” indicating that programmes 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 organisations rather than smaller grassroots groups
• The settlement particularly values programmes that support young and emerging performing artists, including cover artist programmes and early career development
• Grant amounts and frequency vary significantly based on the settlement's investment income and trustees' decisions
• Organisations 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

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Pallant Charitable Trust
• The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust
• The Mrs Smith And Mount Trust
• The Consuelo And Anthony Brooke Charitable Trust
• A G Manly Charitable Trust
• The Tory Family Foundation
• The United Reformed Church (southern Synod) Trust Limited
• The Bassil Shippam And Alsford Trust
• The Chalk Cliff Trust
• John Jackson Charitable Trust

References

• UK Charity Commission Register. (2025). THE BRIAN MITCHELL CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT - Charity 1003817. Retrieved 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 from https://www.glyndebourne.com/fundraising/a-lasting-gift-brian-mitchells-story/
• Brighton Early Music Festival. (n.d.). Our Funders. Retrieved from https://www.bremf.org.uk/our-funders/
• Shakespeare's Globe. (n.d.). Our supporters. Retrieved from https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/join-and-support/our-supporters/
• OpenCharities. (2025). THE BRIAN MITCHELL CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT. Retrieved from http://opencharities.org/charities/1003817