Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic
We are committed to providing the best possible support for the individuals and families that we help, as well as our charity partners who deliver vital services in local communities across England and Wales.
Freemasonry’s Impact
Freemasons across England and Wales increased their charitable giving to respond to the needs of their communities.
Help for individuals
A wide-range of help and support is available for Freemasons and their families with financial, health, family or care-related needs. Please make enquiries via email wherever possible.
Do you need help?
0800 035 60 90
help@mcf.org.uk
If you cannot email and your call goes to voicemail please be assured that the message has been received and we will respond – please do not make repeat calls.
If you’ve found yourself with an unexpected loss of income – whether you’re self-employed, an employee, or are simply struggling to collect your pension – we can provide support to cover daily living costs as well as emergency one-off grants.
Those seeking private medical treatment must have visited their GP or other medical consultant and had their need for treatment confirmed.
We can also fund an initial medical consultation to define a health need and suggested treatment.
If your mental health has been affected by social distancing, isolation, or stress, we can provide access to a free and confidential 24-hour counselling service, with trained professionals on hand to listen and give professional guidance.
If you have mobility issues and need equipment to keep you safe and comfortable in your home, we can still fund items that do not require an assessment by an occupational therapist. For example, we can still fund rise and recline chairs and profiling beds.
If a reduced household income means your child or grandchild is struggling to stay in education, or is jeopardising their chance of furthering their education in the future, we can provide support to keep them in education or on a vocational course.
Support for individuals currently receiving help from the MCF
We have put in place the resources and processes necessary to maintain our support for those who we currently help. Confirmed grants to individuals and charities will continue to be paid as normal.
Despite these measures, our response to telephone, post and email enquiries may take longer than usual. We ask for your patience and cooperation during this time.
We will continue to monitor official guidance and our ability to deliver core services, adapting working practices as necessary. Our aim is to return to normal operations as soon as possible.
RMBI Care Co.
RMBI Care Co. Homes are currently open to admissions for new residents and Homes Managers and Business Relationship Managers would be happy to hear from prospective residents and their families.
Alternatively, please send an email to enquiries@rmbi.org.uk and someone will respond.
Unfortunately, there is restricted access in the Homes, to ensure the health and safety of our residents in the current climate; however all our Homes are available to carry out virtual tours through video calls and can provide supportive imagery as necessary.
The RMBI Care Co. Head Office in London is currently closed with staff focused on ensuring the health and safety of the residents and staff in our care homes.
Help from other sources
Government and health
Record your symptoms or find out how much COVID-19 is in your area
For the latest guidance on coronavirus visit the NHS website
Mental health
Mind, the mental health charity, has produced a range of information and resources coronavirus and your wellbeing.
Anxiety UK has produced a support page about dealing with anxiety during these difficult times.
Work
Government guidance for employees
The UK government website has coronavirus guidance for employees. This information includes details of Statutory Sick Pay and other things your employer may be able to do to help.
Government guidance for self-employed
The UK government website has coronavirus guidance for those who are self-employed. It includes information on eligibility and how to apply for a grant.
Benefits
Government guidance for benefits
The UK government website has information about coronavirus and claiming benefits. It includes guidance on Universal Credit, as well as information on changes to Job Centre appointments and assessments for health and disability-related benefits.
Internet safety
Advice on how to protect yourself, your family, finances, devices and organisation from fraudulent online activity.
For older people
Age UK have launched an online hub with information about:
- Coronavirus
- Staying safe and well at home
- Looking after others
- How to help older people in your community
For children
Home-Start have created a list of some of the best practical ideas for activities and resources for you to do with your children if you’re at home because of coronavirus.
Scouts have also pulled together a selection of indoor activity ideas.
Grants to charities
In response to the COVID-19, we have joined with other grant making charities to sign the following pledge regarding our approach to grant making during this time:
We, along with a wider group of funders, recognise that the COVID-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will have an impact on civil society groups, and want to offer reassurance that we stand with the sector during this time.
We wish to be as helpful as possible during the coming weeks and months so that civil society groups can focus on the vital work of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We understand that there will be times when staff and volunteers will not be available, when beneficiaries may need services to be provided in different ways, or when systems need to be flexible to ensure that needs are met.
If your community, services or organisation are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and you receive grant funding from us, we are committed to:
- Adapting activities – we recognise that you may experience difficulties achieving some of the outputs or outcomes we agreed for your grant during the outbreak, and would like to be able to maintain our grant payments to you at originally-agreed levels during this period, so please have a conversation with us if you are affected in this way;
- Discussing dates – we don’t want to add pressure, so if you think you will struggle to meet a reporting deadline please get in touch with us so that we can agree a more realistic time for you to get things to us wherever possible;
- Financial flexibility – we know you may need to use your funding to help cover sickness, purchase equipment, or deliver services differently, and we will be reasonable if you need to move money between budget headings to ensure your work can continue; and
- Listening to you – we are here if you want to talk to us about the situation you’re facing, but we’ll wait for you to call us so that these conversations are at the right time for you.
We also recognise that there may be further shocks to the system caused by COVID-19 that may impact on your other income streams, or require a more urgent response from funders. Where we have any news on emergency funding we commit to publishing this through links on this web page, so you can see all available programmes in one place.
Teddies for Loving Care
TLC is still operating and continues to supply participating hospitals with teddy bears for distressed children. If you have any queries please get in touch:
tlc@mcf.org.uk
Relief Chest Scheme
The Relief Chest team will continue to provide support to Relief Chest users as efficiently as possible. Please send all correspondences including donation forms, cheques, vouchers, applications change of rep forms to the MCF office.
If you have any queries please contact us:
020 3146 3341
reliefchest@mcf.org.uk
How can I help?
If you are a Freemason and want to help with the response to coronavirus, we recommend that you contact your Provincial Office to ask about local initiatives that are being set-up.
UGLE is asking Freemasons to consider becoming an NHS Volunteer.
Alternatively, your local council may be able to assist. Many local authorities are setting up services to support local communities, such as arranging telephone contact with older and vulnerable people.
Please do continue to check the UGLE and MCF websites as we continue to look at ways we can support people during this time and details will appear as they become available.