Disaster relief
Freemasonry’s support for Ukrainians in the UK
Last year, we awarded over £1M in support for the Ukraine Appeal, including £500,000 to UK Community Foundations which is working hard to support Ukrainian people living in communities across England and Wales.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation Ukrainian Support Fund aims to help local charities and community organisations that are providing support for refugees arriving from Ukraine and funding the direct delivery of services for their integration, both short and long-term. Our contacts from UK Community Foundations recently provided a report to update us on the progress made so far in the ten participating community foundations across England and Wales, thanks to the generosity of Freemasons:
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation has distributed over £30,000 in grants, funding a range of activities including equine-assisted therapy and English language classes
- Essex Community Foundation has distributed £26,765 in grants to four organisations, to fund an interactive theatre workshop programme and therapy support, reaching 3,000 beneficiaries across Essex
- Heart of England Community Foundation has distributed £39,894 in grants to four organisations, which is funding ESOL drop-in sessions and providing accommodation for Ukrainians working on their immigration status
- Kent Community Foundation has distributed £45,000 in grants to seven organisations, which is funding a Ukrainians Youth Hub – a space for young Ukrainian people to reconnect with their heritage and culture, and creative workshops
- Hertfordshire Community Foundation has so far distributed £9,527 in grants to three organisations, which funded a Christmas party for Ukrainian refugees in 2022 and is funding weekly support sessions
- Sussex Community Foundation has distributed £58,500 in grants to 13 organisations, which is funding English lessons, delivering IT equipment in connection with employment, SIM cards, and accommodation provision
- East End Community Foundation received £58,500 to distribute to local groups supporting refugees in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and City of London
- Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside has distributed £31,500 in grants to four organisations, funding the provision of mental health support and creating a safe place for young Ukrainian people to build on their digital skills
- Community Foundation Wales added their allocation to their Nation of Sanctuary Croeso Fund which provides support for people displaced by conflict who are seeking sanctuary
- Community Foundation for Surrey has distributed £45,000 in grants to six organisations, which is funding support services for displaced Ukrainian people
Thank you for the humanitarian work you are doing for me and other refugees. You are loyal, humane, and kind. I am proud of you. I testify that you love people without discrimination. Rest assured I will never forget you. You helped me in difficult times.
The report also included information on different projects from each Community Foundation, including Breaking Barriers, which received £10,000 to support their employment project that provides dedicated, one-to-one employment and integration advice to Ukrainian refugees across East London. The organisation supports them to develop their CVs, cover letters, and also helps them with employment opportunities through the 50 plus businesses the organisation is partnered with.
Thanks to our grant from the Ukrainian support fund, we’ll be able to provide much needed one-to-one employment advice and guidance to over 600 refugees – a number of whom will indeed be Ukrainian. The war in Ukraine – together with other crises in countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Iran – mean that there has never been a greater need to welcome and support refugees here in the UK. At Breaking Barriers, we are determined to be there for all who need us at this challenging time, and it is thanks to generous supporters like EECF and the Masonic Charitable Foundation that we’re able to do so.
Though a year has passed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, its impact will undoubtedly be long term. These projects, funded by Freemasons, will continue to support the many Ukrainians living in the UK with their employment, integration, mental health, and wellbeing.
