Support for freemasons
Celebrating 20 Years of TalentAid: Empowering the Next Generation of Extraordinary Talent
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of our TalentAid scheme, where we help the children and grandchildren of Freemasons who are exceptionally gifted in music, sport or the performing arts to pursue their talents.
Over the 20 years that TalentAid has been running, we’ve helped a number of extraordinary children hone their skills and enhance their talents – with many going on to have successful careers in their specialist fields. According to Place2Be, nurturing children’s talents can improve their mental health and brain development. We are proud to have such a positive impact on so many lives.
What is TalentAid?
Nurturing exceptional talent in sports, music, or the arts can be a significant financial challenge for families. Whether it’s covering the costs of ongoing sports coaching, advanced music lessons, or purchasing essential items like a musical instrument or sports equipment, the expenses can quickly add up. Fortunately, TalentAid is available to support these gifted young individuals, by providing bursaries which help cover some of these costs and remove the financial barriers to pursuing their talents.
The support is tailored to the needs of each individual and is agreed upon for a set period, typically reviewed annually. This review ensures that the financial support remains aligned with the family’s needs and that the young person’s talent continues to develop.
Keep an eye out over the next six months as we will be spotlighting some of the incredible stars we have helped to shine on our social media channels and on our website. Make sure to follow us and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop.
TalentAid applications will be reopening in January 2025, and closing in April 2025. Register your interest to be notified when applications are opened here.
Read on to find out if you could be eligible for support and what you’ll need to complete an application:
Who is Eligible for TalentAid?
To be considered for a TalentAid grant, applicants must meet several specific criteria:
- Freemason Connection: The applicant must be the child, step-child, or grandchild of a Freemason. If the Freemason’s membership is no longer active, there may still be a window of opportunity to apply, so it’s advisable to contact the grant provider for clarification before submitting an application.
- Age and Education: Candidates must be 25 years old or younger and engaged in full-time education.
- Financial Assessment: A thorough financial assessment of the family’s household income will be conducted to determine eligibility.
- Pursuit of a Career: The candidate must demonstrate a genuine intention to pursue their talent as a career. This includes proving exceptional talent through passing recognised examinations, gaining entry to competitive schemes, or performing at regional or national levels.
Important Considerations
TalentAid is not intended to fund hobbies or assist academically gifted children in attending better schools. Instead, it focuses on supporting those who show exceptional promise in their chosen field.
- School Fees: For students specialising in the performing arts, assistance with school fees is only considered if they attend an accredited institution, such as those listed under the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA) or Music and Dance Scheme (MDS). Similarly, for other disciplines, support for school fees may only be considered if the candidate attends a choir school, a specialist music school, or a sports college based on their exceptional talent.
- Undergraduate Degrees: In cases where grants towards tuition fees are needed, support is only available if the Student Finance Tuition Fee Loan does not cover the full cost.
In most cases where grants are awarded for school fees, parents will be expected to contribute a portion of the costs. This allows us to support as many talented individuals as possible.
Final Thoughts
If your child, step-child, or grandchild shows exceptional talent in sports, music, or the arts, and you’re looking for financial support to help them reach their full potential, this grant scheme could be a valuable resource. However, given the competitive nature of the scheme and the specific eligibility criteria, it’s essential to prepare a strong application that clearly demonstrates both the candidate’s talent and the financial need. By doing so, you could unlock the support needed to take their skills to the next level.
Find out more about TalentAid and look to apply here