The BRIT Trust: Everything you need to know

By Rose Adams | 24 January 2018 | Culture

Proceeds raised from the BRIT Awards play a crucial part in funding The BRIT Trust charity which is integral to running the BRITs school – here’s why…

* 2018’s Critic’s Choice Award winner Jorja Smith performing at this year’s The BRITs Are Coming show

Wednesday 21 February sees London once again play host to the annual music industry showcase The BRIT Awards, featuring performances from some of the best in British talent including: Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Sam Smith and Dua Lipa. But while the night is a musical spectacle to be enjoyed, it’s also an occasion pivotal in raising proceeds for The BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) which sponsors the famous BRIT School, Britain’s only free performing arts and technology institution.

Since the inception of the school back in 1991, the trust has so far donated £9.5m, a sum which has vastly helped to educate musical stars of the past, present and future – some of the most successful alumni include Adele, Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis. Recently, the Trust has increased it’s board to include people from the wider music industry and now has trustees from the three major record companies, several independent record companies, and partners such as Spotify and Eventim. >>

* BRIT nominee Paloma Faith belting out her hits on stage at The BRITs Are Coming

The Trust’s main source of funding comes from the BRIT Awards, Classic BRIT Awards and The Music Industry Trusts Dinner. In addition to said main beneficiaries, the Trust has also raised over £20m for other music and educational related causes nationwide including: War Child, Chicken Shed, Drugscope, Save the Children Tsunami Appeal, and East London Academy of Music since its foundation in 1989. An intrinsic part of the BRIT Trust charity is Maggie Crowe OBE, director of events and charities at BPI (British Recorded Music Industry). In her role as administrator of the BRIT Trust charity, Maggie lends her passion and expertise in helping the school however she can.

For her long standing commitment to the charity and work for the commercial arm of the BPI, running their events including the BRIT Awards and the Mercury Prize, Maggie was awarded an OBE in the 2011 New Years Honour list which she is quite rightly inordinately proud of.

We’re pleased to announce that Tempus magazine is the headline partner of The BRIT Awards official after party 2018. At the event, which will take place after the show on 21 February, we’ll be launching an exciting competition, proceeds of which will go towards The BRIT Trust, among other deserving charities. Keep your eyes peeled for more!