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This article highlights the importance of managing your finances before they become a crisis and describes how the MCF supported Andy, a Freemason with Cystic Fibrosis, through his financial challenges.

According to research, led by the University of Bristol and Cystic Fibrosis Trust, families with Cystic Fibrosis are more likely to be struggling with their finances than the general UK population. In fact, a quarter of adults with the condition and over a third of parents of children with Cystic Fibrosis report that paying their bills is a ‘constant struggle’; double the rate of UK households overall.

Andy, a Freemason from Sussex, has been living with Cystic Fibrosis for his entire life. He has been able to manage for the most part, but when he was made redundant from his full-time job due to changes in his health, he was put in a difficult position.

Recently, Andy found that living with Cystic Fibrosis made working consistently difficult. He could only manage part-time hours working in a completely different, unfamiliar industry. This financial strain became more noticeable when he was moving home and didn’t have the deposit to secure a flat. His father, who is also a Freemason, suggested that he ask his Lodge for support.

Andy’s Lodge was able to help in this immediate situation by providing a deposit, so that Andy could secure a place to live. However, both his dad and his Lodge encouraged him to reach out to the MCF for ongoing support, as his condition was continuing to make his financial situation more difficult.

As a result of having Cystic Fibrosis, Andy needs to follow a specific diet which can make buying food more expensive; especially during times of financial hardship. Even though Andy is receiving state benefits, the amount received only amounted to £7 per day. Due to a lack of adequate nutrition, Andy would be in hospital very frequently and the nature of his condition means that he would need to go for treatment in London, leaving him more isolated from his support network; a situation which began to take a toll on his mental health.

When applying for support from the MCF, Andy was supported in his applications by a Visiting Volunteer, who helped him fill out the forms and apply for further state benefits of which he had not been aware. He found that his experience with the MCF was overwhelmingly positive, having received clear and timely communication regarding the status of his application.

Andy qualified for a Daily Living Cost grant from the MCF and this relieved a lot of the pressure that he was feeling. The financial support allowed Andy to follow his recommended diet, which reduced the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis. Due to his improved health, his visits to the hospital are now less frequent and he is able to socialise more often, which has greatly improved his mental health.