Charity
For recent Grand Charity Grants click here
The Grand Charity is the central grant making charity of all Freemasons in England
and Wales. All funding for the Grand Charity comes from donations by individual Freemasons
and their families. Masonic Relief Grants originally provided help for poor and distressed
Freemasons and the making of Masonic Relief Grants is still one of the primary activities
of The Grand Charity. However, The Grand Charity also provides financial support,
when needed, to the other three main Masonic charities. Non-
The Grand Charity has made grants following a number of disasters around the world during 2010. It donated money following the Haiti earthquake of January 2010 via the Relief Chest Scheme, which has reached £91,000. A donation of £50,000 was made following the Pakistan floods, sent via the Red Cross. The Red Cross was selected as the channel for this money due to their current presence in Pakistan and infrastructure capabilities, allowing them to provide immediate aid and assistance. The first £25,000 of this donation was one of the first organisations to assist the Red Cross in this way, and was followed by a second £25,000. The money will be used to provide hygiene kits and sanitation facilities, and safe drinking water.
The Grand Charity was also among the first to respond following the New Zealand Earthquake, sending an emergency grant of £10,000 within a few days. This was sent via the District Grand Lodge of South Island to the Mayor of Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund.
A donation of £250,000 has been made to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help . Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of The Freemasons' Grand Charity, said "The immensely valuable work carried out by SSAFA Forces Help is widely supported within the Masonic community, and this latest grant is further evidence of our benevolent commitment in support of the armed services".
Following the extreme flooding which hit Cornwall late last month, the President of the Grand Charity has approved a grant of £5,000. This money is to be spent helping members of the Cornish community who have been adversely affected by the flooding, via the Province of Cornwall. Millions of pounds worth of damage has been caused, leaving many shop and business owners facing massive repair bills. Some people were left homeless following the floods, and others face a large process of repairs.
Full details of these and other donations can be found at the Grand Charity website . A report from July 2010 about Grand Charity Grants can be found here.
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys objective is to continue to relieve poverty and provide an education and preparation for life for the children of the family of a Freemason and, where funds permit, for any children, as their fathers would have done, had they been able so to do.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution which is an organisation offering degrees of care, support and assistance appropriate to individual needs and is committed to ensuring the individuals' right to dignity, respect, choice and control over their own lives.
The Masonic Samaritan Fund was established in 1990 and seeks to provide medical assistance to needy Freemasons, their families and dependants who are unable to obtain NHS treatment without undue delay, and who cannot afford private treatment without suffering further hardship.
Local Charities
In addition to the contributions made by Hereford masons to The Grand Charity, support is given to a number of local charitable causes through the Hereford Masonic Charity Association. These include, The Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, Hereford Age Concern, Gloucestershire Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy Unit Appeal, Courtyard Audio Description Association and Riding for the Disabled where Masonic donations help to sponsor their adopted horse 'Gypsy'. The Hereford Masonic Housing Trust and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire Benevolent Fund also exist to provide support to further worthy causes. Of recent special interest is the charitable support for the restoration of Hereford Cathedral's Lady Chapel.
The Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association (HMCA) has continued its long standing charitable activities and recently (December 2010) reviewed the many Petitions for support from local charities. The following Donations were agreed:
£1000 Herefordshire Headway
£1000 Martha Trust
£250 Leominster Shopmobility
£250 Leominster Community First Responders
£1000 British heart Foundation (to supply
an echocardiograph to our Local hospital in 2011)
Happy Days £764
If any Brother knows of support needed by Registered Local Charities please contact the HMCA Secretary W. Bro. D. Knowles (knowles111@btinternet.com) Tel 01432 358791
Hereford Cathedral -
The refurbishment of the Lady Chapel has been a significant seven year programme
of work which was completed in 2003. It is a matter of pride for the Masons of Herefordshire
whose generosity further complemented that of the Grand Charity and English Heritage
to make the restoration of the five windows possible and it is hoped that this will
also give pleasure to local residents and visitors alike. Furthermore a commemorative
stone, inscribed with the Square and Compasses and the date 1753 – 2003, has been
placed by the Cathedral adjacent to the North pathway where it is readily visible.
This signifies the enduring bond between Hereford Freemasons and the local community,
giving visible evidence that Freemasonry continues to support and maintain the foundations
and traditions of culture and society.
SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association is looking for volunteers to help in their work with present and past members of the Armed Forces. Click here for more information.