Grants to charities, Support for Freemasons and families
We are five!
On 1 April 2021, we are celebrating five years of being the Freemasons’ charity, working on their behalf to build better lives across England, Wales and overseas.
Supporting the wider community
Since our launch, over 3,000 charities – from small, community-run groups to large national organisations – have been supported with grants to fund the delivery of vital projects and services.
To ensure Freemasonry’s funding has the greatest impact possible, our charitable grants have focused on areas of society most underfunded:
Partnerships
To help deliver our work, we have established three £1 million partnerships with some of the UK’s leading charities dedicated to supporting communities that fall into our charitable themes.
Our partnership with Age UK has seen thousands of lonely, isolated older people achieve milestones they thought weren’t possible, such as getting out of debt, coping with a loss or engaging with their communities.
Our work with Home-Start has allowed more disadvantaged families with children under five to build strong home foundations that will ultimately help their children achieve and prosper in school.
Finally, our partnership with Hospice UK has meant crucial bereavement services have continued to support people who are coping with loss, as well as the often over-looked homeless and vulnerably-housed community.
Pioneering medical research
Freemasonry, through our work, has continued to champion ground-breaking research and the scientists of tomorrow, by funding PhD studentships in partnership with leading charities and organisations.
From dementia treatments to diabetic blindness to motor neurone disease – Freemasonry’s funding is paving a brighter future for many people affected by degenerative diseases, and supporting aspiring researchers and scientists into their chosen career.
Responding to crisis
Over 40 natural disasters have rocked communities both and home and overseas with devastating, and sometimes fatal, consequences. Freemasonry, through our work, has responded with over £850,000 in funding to help relief efforts in the wake of disasters.
Our fifth year as the Freemasons’ charity was one no one could have expected. Our planned strategy for the year changed overnight to reflect the immediate needs of communities affected by COVID-19, and Freemasonry rose to the challenge of raising £1 million for a COVID-19 relief in just 16 weeks.
In total, we allocated £3.6 million of Freemasonry’s funding to help support charities and projects responding to or affected by the pandemic. From mental health helplines to food banks to Personal Protective Equipment – not to mention a COVID-19 vaccine – we have worked with Provinces to ensure crucial relief efforts are supported and sustained through this incredibly difficult year and beyond.
Supporting Freemasons and their families
In our first five years, we have responded to over 50,000 enquiries received from individuals and families facing a difficult time in their lives. Each enquiry has been an ask for help, and we feel privileged to be an organisation people can turn to when they may be struggling.
In response, we have been able to provide over 32,000 grants to encourage opportunity, promote independence and improve wellbeing.
Providing a lifeline
From helping to cover the cost of everyday living, to supporting exceptionally talented children, to funding home adaptations for people with disabilities – our work ranges far and wide, and at the heart, focuses on ensuring people can lead a fulfilling life.
“I am proud of the difference that the MCF has made to so many people over our first five years. Our work has helped people from all walks of life in every part of England, Wales as well as overseas. All of our work has been funded purely from the donations of Freemasons and I would like to thank them for the support and generosity they have given to their new charity.”
Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive
