Frank Branston Charitable Trust grants
Frank Branston Charitable Trust funds Bedfordshire not-for-profit organisations with micro grants of £500 to £3,000 and main grants of £3,001 to £15,000, administered by Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Frank Branston Charitable Trust funds not-for-profit organisations whose activity or project involves residents who live within Bedfordshire. The first thing to know is that you do not apply to the trust directly. All administration of grant applications is currently undertaken by the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation. It offers micro grants between £500 and £3,000, and main grants between £3,001 and £15,000 for more substantial activity lasting up to one year. Funding allocation is done annually, in early spring, so the timing matters. Its priorities are the advancement of health and saving of lives, and supporting arts, culture and heritage within the community. It also names alleviation of poverty and improving access to education and training. You need a constitution or other governing document, and a committee of at least three unrelated trustees or directors. It will not fund any activity that does not provide direct and demonstrable benefit to Bedfordshire residents.
What they fund
These categories come from the Charity Commission register and cover a wide spread. The trust's own priorities are health, arts and heritage, poverty and access to education and training.
Who and where
The register records the trust working in the East of England, listing Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Frank Branston Charitable Trust says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“Advancement of health and saving of lives Supporting arts, culture and heritage within the community Alleviation of poverty Improving access to education and training”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Frank Branston Charitable Trust - Bedfordshire Community Grants →
Who they say they'll fund
“You are a not-for-profit organisation making a real difference to the people within the community Your activity or project will involve residents who live within Bedfordshire You have a constitution or other governing document, and a committee of at least three unrelated Trustees/Directors”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Funding for Charitable Organisations | FBCT | Bedfordshire →
What they say they won't fund
“You are not applying for retrospective costs or as a direct replacement of statutory/public funding, and you do not hold a significant amount of free financial reserves”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Funding for Charitable Organisations | FBCT | Bedfordshire →
“We don't give grants for individuals unless an eligible organisation applies on their behalf, and we will not fund any activity that does not provide direct and demonstrable benefit to Bedfordshire residents”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Funding for Charitable Organisations | FBCT | Bedfordshire →
Grant sizes they mention
“Micro grants between £500-£3,000, and Main grants between £3,001-£15,000 for more substantial activity lasting up to one year”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Funding for Charitable Organisations | FBCT | Bedfordshire →
Deadlines they mention
“Funding allocation is done annually, in early Spring”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Frank Branston Charitable Trust - Bedfordshire Community Grants →
How they say to apply
“All administration regarding grant applications is currently undertaken by the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation (BLCF). To discuss the eligibility criteria, get help developing your application or for any other enquiry, please contact the BLCF”
Source: fbct.org.uk — Funding for Charitable Organisations | FBCT | Bedfordshire →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
To pay or apply the income of the trust fund to such charities or for such charitable purposes as the trustees think fit.
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does Frank Branston Charitable Trust give?
It offers micro grants between £500 and £3,000, and main grants between £3,001 and £15,000 for more substantial activity lasting up to one year. Charity Commission records show £139,625 in grants to organisations in its most recent financial year.
What does Frank Branston Charitable Trust fund?
It lists the advancement of health and saving of lives, supporting arts, culture and heritage within the community, alleviation of poverty, and improving access to education and training.
Who can apply to Frank Branston Charitable Trust?
You should be a not-for-profit organisation making a real difference to the people within the community, and your activity or project should involve residents who live within Bedfordshire. You need a constitution or other governing document, and a committee of at least three unrelated trustees or directors. The Charity Commission register lists Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton as its local authority areas.
What will Frank Branston Charitable Trust not fund?
It does not give grants for individuals, unless an eligible organisation applies on their behalf, and it will not fund any activity that does not provide direct and demonstrable benefit to Bedfordshire residents. You should also not be applying for retrospective costs, or as a direct replacement of statutory or public funding, and you should not hold a significant amount of free financial reserves.
How do I apply to Frank Branston Charitable Trust?
It says all administration regarding grant applications is currently undertaken by the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation, so contact the community foundation to discuss the eligibility criteria or to get help developing your application. Funding allocation is done annually, in early spring. Check the funder's own website (www.fbct.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1162156) for current guidance, as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Frank Branston Charitable Trust?
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Frank Branston Charitable Trust.