The Brickability Group Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £230,460 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: £500 - £60,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with focus on communities where Brickability Group operates
• Charity Number: 1197182
• Founded: December 2021

Contact Details

Website: Foundation Trust page

Contact: General enquiries through Brickability Group PLC contact form

Address: Queensgate House, Cookham Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1RB

Phone: 0870 143 3332

Overview

The Brickability Group Foundation was launched in December 2021 as the charitable arm of Brickability Group PLC, registered under charity number 1197182. The Foundation advances exclusively charitable purposes under the law of England and Wales by providing grants to children's charities and other non-profit organisations supporting charitable causes. In the financial year ending April 2024, the Foundation had total income of £258,554 and expenditure of £230,460. Since launch, the Foundation has donated over £400,000, with £311,000 directed to community projects and registered charities, plus £90,000 in matched funding for employee fundraising efforts. The Foundation is governed by three trustees and supported by four volunteers. The Foundation focuses on environmental projects and supporting communities where Brickability operates, with an emphasis on youth and community-focused initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Three-Year Strategic Partnerships: £20,000 per year over three years

• Major partnerships launched in April 2023
• Earth Trust partnership supports environmental education for 450 children across 15 schools in Reading
• Focus on delivering real and long-term impacts in communities and natural environment

Charity of the Year Programme: Variable amounts

• Annual selection of one or more major charities to support
• 2025 charities include It's in the Bag Testicular Cancer Charity, Momentum Children's Charity, and Moseley Rugby Community Foundation
• Employee-led charity selection process

Big Sport Ballot: £20,000 annual fund (doubled to £40,000 in 2024/25)

• Grants up to £500 to youth sports clubs
• Employee-nominated programme
• Supports grass-roots youth sports programmes

Employee Matched Fundraising: Up to £3,000 per employee per year

• Foundation matches employee fundraising activities
• Has generated £90,000 in matched funding to date

One-Off Major Donations: £25,000 - £60,000

• Example: £51,806 to Hope for Children (including matched donation for employee London Marathon fundraising)

Priority Areas

Environmental Education and Conservation

• Nature-based learning for children
• Environmental projects in the UK
• Tree planting initiatives (10,000 trees planted to date)
• Focus on schools in deprived areas with limited access to green spaces

Children and Young People

• Children's charities
• Youth sports clubs and programmes
• Educational opportunities for disadvantaged children
• Health and wellbeing resources for children in extreme poverty

Community Projects

• Communities where Brickability Group operates
• Grass-roots community organisations
• Sports and recreation for young people

Employee-Connected Causes

• Charities nominated by employees
• Causes close to the hearts of Brickability staff
• Employee-led fundraising initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation's scope is limited to:

• Purposes that are exclusively charitable under English and Welsh law
• Focus primarily on children's charities and community projects
• Geographic focus on UK and communities where Brickability operates

No specific exclusions are publicly documented, but the Foundation appears to maintain a strategic focus rather than accepting open applications.

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed on the Foundation's website.

The Foundation is supported by four volunteers and operates as part of the broader Brickability Group PLC ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy.

Paul Hamilton, Group COO and Divisional Director of the Distribution Division at Brickability Group, has been involved in Foundation initiatives, including running the 2021 London Marathon for Hope for Children, which prompted the Foundation to match his £25,903 fundraising, bringing the total donation to £51,806.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This Foundation does not have a public application process.

Grants are awarded through:

1. Strategic decisions by trustees - The Foundation creates multi-year strategic partnerships with selected organizations
2. Employee nominations - Through programmes like the Charity of the Year selection and Big Sport Ballot
3. Matched employee fundraising - When employees fundraise for charities, the Foundation matches their efforts up to £3,000 per employee

The Foundation appears to proactively identify and approach organizations for strategic partnerships rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The website states that over £400,000 has been donated since launch but provides no application forms, guidelines, or submission processes.

Getting on Their Radar

The Earth Trust partnership demonstrates the Foundation's approach to identifying partners. Earth Trust was selected for a three-year partnership focusing on environmental education in Reading, which aligns with both the Foundation's environmental priorities and geographic focus (Reading is in Berkshire, where Brickability Group is headquartered in Bracknell).

Organizations may increase their visibility to the Foundation by:

• Operating in Brickability Group's geographic communities - The Foundation explicitly focuses on “communities where Brickability operates”
• Connecting through employees - The Foundation's Charity of the Year is “inspired by causes close to the hearts of their people,” suggesting employee advocacy plays a role
• Demonstrating alignment with strategic priorities - Environmental projects and children's charities appear to be core focus areas

For youth sports clubs, the Big Sport Ballot provides a specific pathway through employee nominations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. Strategic partnerships appear to be established on an annual cycle, with the 2023 partnerships announced in April 2023.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the Foundation does not accept open applications, traditional success rates are not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation does not have a public application process, organizations cannot directly apply. However, analyzing funded projects reveals what the Foundation values:

Strategic Alignment with ESG Goals

The Foundation was created to “support the aims of their ESG strategy and their drive to have positive social and environmental impact as a business.” Projects must demonstrably contribute to environmental or social impact.

Long-Term Impact and Sustainability

The Earth Trust partnership was designed to “deliver real and long term impacts” and aims to “foster a network of support that can sustain the work beyond the lifetime of the project.” The Foundation seeks three-year partnerships rather than one-off grants for major initiatives.

Geographic Relevance

The Foundation prioritizes “communities where Brickability operates.” The Earth Trust project focuses on Reading, close to Brickability's Bracknell headquarters. Organizations in areas with Brickability Group operations may have an advantage.

Focus on Disadvantaged Communities

The Earth Trust partnership specifically targets “two wards that are within the 10% most deprived in England” and schools with “limited access to natural, green spaces.” Projects serving disadvantaged populations align with the Foundation's mission.

Employee Connection

Multiple funding streams (Charity of the Year, Big Sport Ballot, matched fundraising) involve employee participation. Charities with existing connections to Brickability Group employees may have increased visibility.

Measurable Outcomes

The Earth Trust project targets specific numbers: “450 children over the next three years” across “15 schools.” The Foundation appears to value clear, quantifiable impact metrics.

Children and Youth Focus

The charitable objects specifically mention "children's charities," and funded projects (Earth Trust, Hope for Children, youth sports clubs) consistently serve young people.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - Direct applications are not accepted; the Foundation proactively identifies partners or funds through employee-led programmes
• Employee connections are valuable - Multiple funding pathways involve employee nominations, fundraising, or advocacy
• Strategic partnerships are substantial - Three-year commitments of £20,000/year demonstrate preference for sustained relationships over one-off grants
• Geographic focus matters - Operating in communities where Brickability Group has a presence increases relevance
• Environmental and youth causes align best - The Foundation's funded projects consistently focus on environmental education, children's charities, and youth development
• Long-term impact is prioritized - The Foundation seeks projects that will have sustained impact beyond the funding period
• Matched fundraising offers an alternative pathway - Organizations whose work inspires Brickability employees to fundraise can benefit from the up to £3,000 per employee matching programme

References

• The Brickability Group Foundation - UK Charity Commission Register -
• Foundation Trust - Brickability Group PLC -
• Brickability Foundation Trust Donates £51,806 to Hope for Children -
• Brickability Group Foundation's Big Sport Ballot Update -
• Inspiring Future Green Leaders - Earth Trust -
• Launch of “Inspiring Future Green Leaders” Programme - Earth Trust -
• Contact - Brickability Group PLC -