TalentAid
TalentAid helps the children and grandchildren of Freemasons who are exceptionally talented in music, sport or the performing arts.
Grants can be awarded to assist with ongoing costs such as sports coaching, advanced music lessons and the purchase of one-off items such as a musical instrument or sports equipment.
Support is agreed for a set period of time and subject to both an annual financial review and confirmation that the candidate’s talent continues to develop.
The scheme is competitive and has limited funds.
Eligibility
All applications are subject to the following criteria:
- The applicant must be the child, step-child or grandchild of a Freemason.
- A financial assessment of the family’s household income.
- Candidates must apply for all other sources of available funding such as grants, scholarships and sponsorship.
- Candidates must intend to pursue their talent as a career and must be able to demonstrate exceptional talent by passing recognised examinations, gaining entry to highly competitive schemes or by performing at regional and national levels.
- Grants are not available to fund a hobby or so that an academically gifted child can attend a better school.
- Assistance with school fees for performing arts students can only be considered if they attend a Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) accredited or Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) accredited establishment, see the DaDA list here and MDS list here.
- We are only able to consider assistance with school fees for other disciplines if the applicant attends a choir school, a specialist music school or a sports college based on their exceptional talent.
Please note: you are not required to have an offer of a place at your proposed school, college or university in order to apply for the TalentAid scheme.
In most cases where grants toward fees are agreed, parents will be expected to make a contribution.
Deadline
All TalentAid applications for each upcoming academic year will be considered the preceding July and you will be notified of the outcome of your application in August.
For those seeking support for the 2023/24 academic year: the TalentAid scheme has closed for this academic year so we are not accepting any further applications.
For those seeking support for the 2024/25 academic year: applications will open in January 2024.
Register below to be notified when TalentAid applications are open
How to apply
There are three parts to the application:
1 – Application Form
2 – Supporting Statement
3 – Tutor/Coach Reference Form
The Tutor/Coach Reference Form and Supporting Statement must be completed for an application to be considered. They are used to help us identify the very best candidates. We will not accept alternative documents in place of any of the three TalentAid forms. The Tutor/Coach Reference Form will be emailed directly to the nominated tutor/coach once your Application Form is received.
If we do not receive all three parts of the application, together with supporting financial documents, your application will not be progressed.
When the scheme re-opens in January 2024, each eligible application will be presented to our decision-making panel for a decision in July 2024. Any applications received before January 2024 will not be considered.
If you have any questions about TalentAid, please call 020 3146 3333 or email talentaid@mcf.org.uk
Further information
If you have any questions about the TalentAid scheme, please get in touch:
0800 035 60 90
talentaid@mcf.org.uk