The Distillers' Charity

Charity Number: 1193683

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,262,585 (charitable activities expenditure, 2024)
  • Total Income: £2,383,881 (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified (portfolio-based model)
  • Grant Range: Not specified (works through curated portfolio partners)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (Youth Action Fund focuses on Scotland)
  • Founded: 1955 (re-registered 2021)

Contact Details

Email: office@distillers.org.uk

Phone: 07721 249846

Website: https://distillerscharity.org

Registered Charity Number: 1193683 (England & Wales), SC052075 (Scotland)

For WSET Bursary enquiries: wsetbursary@drinkstrust.org.uk

Overview

The Distillers' Charity was originally founded in 1955 through a donation by The Distillers Company Limited in the name of Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan and was re-registered in 2021 by The Worshipful Company of Distillers as its successor. The charity operates as a fundraising and grant-making organization with total income of £2.38 million (2024), deploying funds through three strategic grant-making programmes. Its broad mission is to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people by helping them develop their confidence, resilience and skills so they are ready for life and work. The charity is funded principally through the biennial Distillers One of One Auction, which has raised £4.3 million since its inception in 2021. More than 3,300 young people have been engaged through the Youth Action Fund since early 2022, with the charity carefully researching, designing and monitoring all programmes to maximise learning and effectiveness.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Distillers' Charity operates through three distinct but interrelated grant-making areas:

1. Youth Action Fund (Scotland-focused)

  • Managed by Inspiring Scotland through a curated portfolio model
  • Targets young people aged 16-25 facing significant barriers to reaching their potential
  • 90% of auction proceeds channeled to this fund
  • Works through six delivery partners: Aberdeen Foyer, Action for Children, FARE Scotland, Street League, ENABLEWorks, and The Talk About Trust
  • Application Method: Not open to direct applications; operates through invited portfolio partners only
  • Reached 1,157 young people across 23 local authority areas in Scotland (2024)
  • 60% of supported youth live in Scotland's top 30% most deprived areas

2. Vocational Training & Education (VTE)

  • Supports promising young entrants to the UK spirits trade
  • Programmes include:
  • WSET Bursary Programme: Partnership with Wine & Spirit Education Trust and The Drinks Trust; successful candidates complete WSET qualifications and access WCD mentoring programme
  • CIBD Scholarship: One annual scholarship worth £1,500 for CIBD Diploma in Distilling
  • Work experience placements in the drinks industry
  • Pro-bono mentoring initiative
  • Annual “Business of Spirits Seminar” for Institute of Brewing and Distilling students
  • Application Method: Contact specific programme administrators (e.g., wsetbursary@drinkstrust.org.uk for WSET bursaries)
  • Targets young talent and those of limited means

3. City & Livery Giving

  • Supports drinks industry members suffering from hardship or mental health issues
  • Helps young people stay safe around alcohol
  • Key partners include:
  • The Drinks Trust: Hardship grants and vocational support for drinks/hospitality trade workers
  • The Talk About Trust: Training for professionals supporting young people on alcohol/substance misuse prevention
  • Future Youth Zone: Safe space partnership with Lord Mayor's Appeal for disadvantaged young people
  • Application Method: Typically through partner organizations rather than direct applications

Priority Areas

  • Young people aged 16-25 facing multiple complex barriers to employment and education
  • Disadvantaged young people in Scotland (Youth Action Fund)
  • Young entrants to the UK spirits industry requiring skills development
  • Drinks industry workers experiencing hardship or mental health challenges
  • Alcohol education and harm prevention for young people
  • Employability outcomes: employment, further/higher education, vocational training, apprenticeships, school re-engagement

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct grants to individuals (operates through partner charities only)
  • Organizations outside their three strategic programme areas
  • General appeals from charities not within their curated portfolio or partnership network
  • Beneficiaries outside the UK (though Youth Action Fund is Scotland-specific)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Grant Gordon OBE (Chair)

Philanthropist and social entrepreneur, former chair of William Grant Foundation. Awarded OBE in 2021 for services to charity. Gordon's mission is to “help build stronger communities, strengthen social capital and to create opportunities for people to thrive.”

Geoffrey Bush DL

Former Diageo senior executive including chair of The Diageo Foundation. Lead trustee for the Youth Action Fund.

Paul Hick

Treasurer of The Distillers' Charity and Chair of the Finance Committee.

Johnny Roberts

Managing Director at Berry Bros. & Rudd. Lead trustee for communication and engagement.

Richard Watling

Former senior executive in the drinks industry, Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Distillers. Lead trustee for Vocational Training and Education. Leads the mentoring initiative for WCD, stating: “I am delighted to be joining fellow Liveryman Daniel Szor in this exciting venture.”

The board is responsible for setting the organisation's grant-making strategy and securing resources to support the philanthropic mission.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Distillers' Charity is a fundraising and grant-making charity with the primary purpose of providing funding and support to other charities. It does not accept direct grant applications from individuals or organizations seeking funding.

Youth Action Fund

  • Status: Currently not open to applicants
  • Operates through a curated portfolio model established via a detailed Scoping Report by Inspiring Scotland (2021)
  • Selection based on deep expertise in achieving sustainable employability outcomes with disadvantaged young people
  • Existing portfolio partners were selected based on evidence-based practice, ability to work with hardest-to-reach youth, and track record of transformative impact

Vocational Training & Education

  • WSET Bursaries: Contact wsetbursary@drinkstrust.org.uk
  • CIBD Scholarship: Apply through Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers
  • Other VTE opportunities: Contact office@distillers.org.uk for mentoring, work experience

City & Livery Giving

  • Hardship support: Access through The Drinks Trust
  • Alcohol education programmes: Delivered through partner organizations like The Talk About Trust and Alcohol Education Trust

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified, as the charity works primarily through established partnerships rather than open application rounds.

Success Rates

Youth Action Fund Outcomes (2024):

  • 890 young people achieved positive employability outcomes
  • 33% moved into employment
  • 28% progressed into further or higher education
  • 19% began vocational training or apprenticeships
  • 15% re-engaged with school
  • 4,403 key progression milestones achieved, including qualifications and improved literacy/numeracy
  • 721 young people participated in Alcohol Awareness Training

Success rates for open applications are not applicable, as the charity does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Given the curated portfolio model, there does not appear to be a traditional application/reapplication cycle.

Application Success Factors

Key Considerations for Potential Partners

Given that The Distillers' Charity operates through curated partnerships rather than open applications, organizations seeking to partner should note:

Alignment Factors:

  • Deep expertise in youth employability and supporting disadvantaged young people
  • Evidence-based practice with measurable outcomes
  • Ability to work with “hardest-to-reach” young people facing multiple complex barriers
  • Track record of transformative impact in the charity's priority areas
  • For VTE programmes: Connection to spirits/drinks industry and commitment to developing sector talent
  • For Scotland-based work: Ability to reach young people in deprived areas across multiple local authorities

Programme Design:

  • Tailored, holistic one-to-one and group support
  • Skills development and confidence building
  • Employer engagement and work-based opportunities
  • Dedicated key worker relationships
  • Careful research, design, monitoring and outcome evaluation

Recent Funded Examples:

  • Aberdeen Foyer, Action for Children, FARE Scotland, Street League, ENABLEWorks (Youth Action Fund delivery partners)
  • The Drinks Trust (hardship support and vocational development)
  • The Talk About Trust (substance misuse prevention for vulnerable young adults)
  • Alcohol Education Trust (alcohol education for children)
  • Future Youth Zone Barking & Dagenham (safe space for youth activities)

Language and Terminology:

  • “Transforming young lives”
  • “Empowering young people to create positive change”
  • “Ready for life and work”
  • “Sustainable employability outcomes”
  • “Confidence, resilience and skills”
  • “Disadvantaged by their circumstances”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not open to direct applications: This is a curated portfolio funder that selects partners strategically rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant applications are not the route to funding.
  • Industry connection matters: Two of the three funding streams have strong ties to the spirits and drinks industry (VTE and City & Livery Giving). Organizations with relevant sector connections may find partnership opportunities.
  • Scotland-focused youth work: The flagship Youth Action Fund specifically targets 16-25 year-olds in Scotland facing significant barriers. Scottish organizations with expertise in youth employability should monitor for portfolio expansion opportunities.
  • Evidence-based outcomes essential: The charity emphasizes careful research, design, monitoring and outcome evaluation. Partners must demonstrate measurable impact and sustainable employability outcomes.
  • Partnership approach: Rather than seeking grants, organizations should consider how they might align as delivery partners, particularly if they serve the charity's target populations with proven, evidence-based programmes.
  • Relationship building: With trustees having deep drinks industry experience (Diageo, Berry Bros. & Rudd, William Grant Foundation), building relationships within the spirits sector may create awareness of partnership opportunities.
  • Contact for VTE opportunities: For those supporting young people entering the spirits trade, specific bursary and scholarship programmes do have application routes through partner organizations (WSET, CIBD, The Drinks Trust).

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