Drinks Trust

The Drinks Trust, founded in 1886 as The Benevolent by wine merchant Robert Gray, is the UK's leading charity dedicated to empowering current and former workers in the drinks and drinks-led hospitality industry, along with their families. Guided by values of openness, compassion, respect, equality, and empowerment, it provides confidential financial, emotional, practical, and wellbeing support to those facing hardship from illness, disability, mental health issues, addiction, or life events. Its distinctive approach integrates immediate welfare—via hardship grants for rent, bills, medical costs, funerals, disability aids, and essentials—with longer-term resilience through therapy, addiction services, and professional development like brewing, distilling, and WSET courses, fostering an equitable sector sustained by industry leaders and partnerships.

It prioritizes individuals across all roles and career stages in production, sales, on- and off-trade, with a focus on acute financial need or limited access to opportunities. Support spans UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) for those with at least 3 years' full-time (or 5 years' part-time) UK drinks industry employment, assessed case-by-case for families.

Grants typically range from £250 to £2,500, with education bursaries up to £1,500+; applications are rolling via online form requiring NI number, proof of employment, financial details via Open Banking, and hardship evidence—no EOI needed, processed quickly upon completion, paid directly to suppliers. Charities and organisations are ineligible; exclusions cover non-industry applicants, non-UK residents, and core/project funding. Uniquely tailored to the drinks workforce, its seamless blend of crisis aid, skills-building, and industry networks sets it apart for targeted, restorative impact.