Origin Foundation

The Origin Foundation, a Bristol-based charitable trust established in 2012 (formerly The Frankham Family Charitable Trust), is dedicated to addressing opportunity gaps for young people in Bristol, especially from underserved communities. Governed by trustees with expertise in youth development, its mission centers on fostering motivation, confidence, skills, ambition, and positive contributions to the city through inclusivity, empowerment, collaboration, and deference to local expertise. Distinctively, it acts as a connector—linking charities, businesses, and leaders like partner Origin Workspace—for collective impact, while commissioning research to target evidenced needs and prioritizing long-term partnerships over direct service delivery.

It funds Bristol youth charities delivering direct interventions in skills-building, confidence enhancement, education, employability, and inspirational experiences for disadvantaged young people. Support includes project funding, capacity building, and core costs, emphasizing established organizations with proven community impact, such as South Bristol Youth, which aids low higher-education areas via workshops, business exposure, and ambition-building.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities rooted in Bristol, serving local youth; it favors small to medium-sized entities with demonstrated experience, though no strict income thresholds apply. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is invite-only via proactive outreach, recommendations, and direct engagement on a rolling basis, with no public deadlines or forms.

Typical grants range from £10,000 to £100,000, contributing to £500,000–£1 million annual distributions (over £1.5 million total since inception). It avoids one-off, emergency, or non-Bristol initiatives, standing out for its hyper-local focus, hands-on strategic partnerships, and commitment to measurable outcomes that empower youth to shape their futures.