Chapter 6
In addition to the charitable grants we award centrally, the MCF engages with Freemasonry and communities to support social change locally. Our community engagement includes:
Through our matched-funding grants programme, Provinces can apply to the MCF to double the value of a donation to a local charity.
In 2022/23, we awarded 273 matched-funding grants totalling £394,369.
In the autumn of 2022 the national and local media were full of stories about the worsening cost of living crisis. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire wanted to support those least able to withstand the financial pressures by supporting some of the Food Banks across Hertfordshire. We used our MCF matched-funding allowance of £10,000 to increase the impact of these donations. Eight food banks were supported by Hertfordshire Freemasons, with donations totalling £57,000.”
Martin Francis
Provincial Grand Charity Steward, Hertfordshire
Lincolnshire Freemasons donated £2,000 to the Scunthorpe branch of national charity SOBS – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide. Members of St Lawrence Lodge and the Lodge of St John each gave £500, with both donations matched by the MCF.
The money bought replacement soft furnishings in SOBS’ seaside caravan, used as a place of respite for survivors, or families affected by suicide. SOBS branch organiser Nina Shrimpton lost her son Russell to suicide 11 years ago. She said it was hard to get mental health support: “It’s just not available. We do what we can. Providing the caravan is part of that. People need to get away. Freemasonry’s help to achieve that is massive.”
For small charities even relatively tiny amounts of money given, matched-funded by the MCF, can have a much greater impact than their monetary value might suggest.”
Pete Tong
Provincial Charity Steward, Lincolnshire
The Freemasons’ Community Fund enabled Metropolitan and Provincial Grand Lodges to support a local cause important to their members. Provinces nominated local charities for a one-off grant of between £10,000 and £25,000. The charities nominated all support disadvantaged children with special educational needs and disabilities and 10 grants were made totalling £176,243.
Provinces that are involved in an intensive fundraising period for the MCF known as a Festival, are offered additional funds to support their local charities. This year, 27 festival grants were awarded totalling £114,000.
Locally-led by Freemasons, the MCF provides central administrative support and guidance to Freemasonry’s Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) programme, which provides teddies for distressed children attending local accident and emergency departments.
In 2022/23, 196,684 teddies were distributed to 326 hospitals and other organisations.
The MCF collaborated with two Provinces
to produce a video for TLC to explain how important the teddies are to the medical staff.
“The MCF have been invaluable to TLC Surrey by always being on hand to discuss matters regarding TLC. The MCF have helped us with our marketing of our new
Steve Butwell
leaflets and flyers and fundraising activities, always pointing us in the right direction.”
Chairman, TLC Surrey
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chapter 7