Masonic Charities and 
Non-masonic Charities

The Freemasons' Grand Charity is a grant-making charity, which is funded by Freemasons and their families.
Last year it gave grants totalling over £5 million to support people in need and fund the work of charities
helping the wider community ... read more here

Siobhan Storer is currently a volunteer at Marie Curie Cancer Care in Maidstone and she is looking to raise awareness of their charity (Marie Curie). She is looking for places/organisations that may be interested in having a talk to raise awareness about the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care. If any lodges/chapters would be interested, Please do not hesitate in emailing me back and I can arrange a phone call to you to discuss this.

Many thanks,
Siobhan Storer.
Marie Curie Cancer Care

In addition to the millions of pounds given annually to non-masonic charities, freemasons are proud of their support of the various masonic charities, and like any club or organisation it is quite natural to want to look after your own members and their dependents. 

Masonic charity starts in local Lodges with gifts and support for widows of past Members, summer outings and Christmas parties. In addition, many Lodges will support one or more local charities. Maidstone Masonic Charities also deals with local charities, widows etc. and can recommend certain cases up to London to the Grand Charity.
Whilst some Masonic Charities cater specifically for masons and their dependants, others do a great deal of non-Masonic charitable giving. The Grand Charity, in addition to helping Masonic petitioners and other Masonic Charities, is the central arm for the Craft's non-Masonic donations. Each year it gives in excess of £100,000 in sums from £500 - £2,000 to a whole range of national medical and welfare charities that have no connection with Freemasonry. In addition, each year it takes a major project to which it gives a donation, usually £250,000 over a period of five years. Over the last few years this has included the provision of a lifeboat to the RNLI; £250,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Wishing Well appeal; the endowing of a Chair in Gerontology at Cambridge University; support to Crisis at Christmas, research into drug abuse, research into cancer and heart disease, and over half a million pounds to Hospices throughout the country. In addition large sums have been given to disaster appeals both at home and abroad. On a local level many Lodges support the local hospital, children's home, or old people's home etc. and in addition to money, provide time and talents to help within the community.

Of the Masonic Charities, the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys supports over 1,000 children. The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has 19 complexes throughout England and Wales, which combine flats and centralised accommodation. The Masonic Housing Association funds projects which result in sheltered accommodation part of which is reserved for Masonic use but the majority is available to the local community.

There is one slightly unusual but important aspect to Masonic Charity. All the money is raised internally by donations and covenants. We do not hold fund raising activities to obtain money from the general public.

Freemasonry is by no means confined to England or the U.K. It is world wide with 116 Grand Lodges which are recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. It is particularly strong in the USA but also in the Commonwealth, South America, Europe and Australasia. The most exciting event of recent time has been the re-emergence of masonry in the former Communist countries. Hungary was first, then Czechoslovakia. Yugoslavia was anticipated to follow until civil war. Communism banned Freemasonry, just like the Nazis.

Masons Collect for Heart of Kent Hospice
Maidstone Freemasons were once again out in force in Maidstone town centre to collect money for The Heart of Kent Hospice. This annual event, which took place on Saturday 9th July was organised this year by Worshipful Brother Bryn Silver of Robinson Lodge, with support provided by a number of Maidstone Lodges. Although the weather wasn’t as hot as last year the sun shone and the rain kept off as passers by dug deep to help fill the collecting boxes and buckets that could be seen throughout Maidstone town centre. The work of the Hospice is greatly valued as it touches the lives of so many and it is always a popular charity to collect for. 

There was a display stand in the High Street at the end of Week Street with leaflets about Freemasonry in the community. The Heart of Kent Hospice is just one of the many charities that are supported by Freemasons throughout the Masonic Province of East Kent. The total raised will not be known for a few weeks as it is hoped that a number of Lodges will swell the collection with further donations.

Article by Trevor Pankhurst, Assistant Provincial Information Officer

Picture L to R: W. Bro John Ruffell, W. Bro Bryn Silver and W. Bro Bob Simmons all from Robinson Lodge ...

Grand Charity reference support for the East Africa crisis ... Read more

20th June 2011

Sixteen major grants have been announced by The Freemasons Grand Charity, awarded to worthwhile projects and causes in the areas of medical research, youth opportunities and support for vulnerable people ... Read more (note PDF file)

17th May 2011

The Grand Charity donates over £250,000 to fund smaller charities and Air Ambulance services

The first installment of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity Minor Grants Programme is assisting twenty-six charities, with a total of £67,850. Grants range from £1,500 to £4,350 and are given in the areas of youth opportunities, support for vulnerable people and medical research. A full list of these grants can be found on the following page ... Read more (note Word file)

Parkinson’s UK is the support and research charity and is passionate about finding a cure and improving life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s. Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity said: ”Many Freemasons have experience of what it is like to live with Parkinson’s, either through a friend or family connection. Parkinson’s UK has therefore received much support within the Masonic community, which has been a key factor for why it was selected for this national grant. We are delighted to be able to join with Parkinson’s UK, to direct our support to local branches.” 

This is the second annual national grant awarded by the Grand Charity, to be divided and distributed to branches throughout the country. The aim of this grant is to support local branches, allowing them to decide how they spend the money. Letters have been sent out to all Provincial Grand Secretaries providing them with further information about the new grant, which is expected to be distributed later this year. If you have any questions about this grant please contact Katrina Baker on 020 7395 9314 / kbaker@the-grand-charity.org  or Siobhan McCarthy on 020 7395 9385 / smccarthy@the-grand-charity.org 
Parkinson’s UK is calling on members of the public to join or sign up online and find out how they can get involved at www.parkinsons.org.uk/joinus 

£50,000 FOR JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS ... 14th March 2011

On 11 March a massive earthquake struck Japan, triggering a tsunami that swept across the east coast, leaving a trail of destruction. Thousands of people have already died and thousands more are missing or injured. The President of the Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £50,000 to the British Red Cross, to assist with its Japan Tsunami Appeal. Since the earthquake struck, there have been repeated earthquakes, with magnitudes of 6.6, every 30 to 60 minutes. 

The tsunami alert is still active. Landslides have been reported in 37 areas. Roads, bridges, railroads, dykes and buildings are damaged in about 460 places and many roads are impassable. The scale of the disaster is still unfolding, with search and rescue teams frantically working whilst dealing with ongoing earthquakes. The threat of a second major tsunami is high, and there are also fears about the stability of the Fukushima nuclear plant. The stability of the Fukushima nuclear plant is also unclear, with major fears of a possible radiation leak spreading across Japan, including into Tokyo which is home to over 30 million people ... The Council of the Grand Charity has opened a special Relief Chest which can receive donations from members of the Craft.

http://www.grandcharity.org/ 

THE FREEMASONS’ GRAND CHARITY HOSPICE GRANTS

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has awarded a total of £19,400 to six hospices in the Masonic Province of East Kent. This sum is in addition to funds already donated by local Freemasons and the grants have been warmly welcomed by the hospices at the end of another demanding year. 

At a meeting of the Millennium Lodge of Charity 9730 on Saturday 8th January 2011, The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Michael Robin Bailey presented cheques to representatives of the six hospices, which included a cheque for £2,800 to the Heart of Kent Hospice, £2,400 to Demelza House Children’s Hospice, £2,800 to the Ellenor lions Hospice, £3,400 to the Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, £3,700 to the Pilgrims Hospice Thanet and £4,300 to the Pilgrims Hospice Ashford. Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of The Freemasons Grand Charity was in attendance at the presentation. 

Throughout 2010 The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has continued its extensive support for adult and children’s hospices across England and Wales, totalling £600,000. All donations are raised by Freemasons and their families and aim to assist hospices in their vital role in helping those affected by terminal or life limiting illness. 

Speaking about the donation, Worshipful Brother Trevor Pankhurst, Assistant Provincial Information Officer for the Maidstone area said: “Since 1984, The Freemasons Grand Charity has awarded nearly £9 million to hospices throughout England and Wales. We wish to pay tribute to the dedicated care that hospices in the Province of East Kent provide in the community, and we are delighted to demonstrate our support for these services in this way”

Article by Trevor Pankhurst 

Assistant Provincial Information Officer

Prostate Cancer Support Association, Kent

Multi-scanner will help save lives

Information about the "Maidstone Stoma Care Support Group"


Freemasons representing Lodges across East Kent assembled outside of Maidstone General Hospital on a damp and dreary Tuesday afternoon in February (23 February 2010) to witness the donation of a much needed Portable Ultrasound Scanner for Urology by the Prostate Cancer Support Association Kent (PSA Kent).

The ‘multiscan’ machine was purchased by PSA Kent from donations made by a number of Lodges across the Province of East Kent together with support from Maidstone Rotary.

The Chairman of PSA Kent, Mr Alan Prior who is also a Deal Freemason presented the equipment to Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Paul Reddy and Lesley Baxter MGH Urology Unit Manager. Mr Reddy said ‘ this equipment is desperately needed and will enable us to screen people more quickly’. Secretary of the PSA Kent, Mr Graham Edwards said ‘ we started in 2006 and our fund-raising was launched with donations from Deal Masonic Lodges. They even provided us with our Chairman! Since then through support from Masonic Lodges throughout East Kent, together with other donations, we have raised over £100,000 and purchased 9 portable multi-scanners for hospitals.’

Lodges represented at the presentation included; Belvidere 503, Staplehurst 8145, Duke of Kent 5818, Watch & Ward 8809, King Edward V11 3252, Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence 184, Manor of Gillingham 3983

Article by Trevor Pankhurst
Assistant Provincial Information Officer

The Masons behind the Appeal are everyday people with families, jobs and commitments of their own, but who have a little time on their hands to make a difference to people’s lives effected by the distress of a sick or injured child ... read more

Family and Friends walk to raise over £4000 to give a little TLC

More than 130 walkers completed a 5 mile walk along the River Medway at Yalding, raising in the region of £4,000 to buy more teddies to be donated to A&E units across East Kent. This was the 4th year that the event has been organised by East Kent Freemasons headed by the Chairman of the East Kent TLC Committee, John Keeley.
John Keeley said, “Where does the magic come from? The ability for a small cuddly bear to sooth and calm a crying child, the simple act of giving a bear to a child is happening every day in every A&E department and minor injury units throughout East Kent. In the four and a half years since the appeal started 47,000 teddy bears have been donated by Freemasons from the Province of Kent” Dressed in yellow T shirts bearing the well known TLC and teddy logo the enthusiastic participants completed the 5 mile walk in between 1 and 2 hours. Some of the more energetic walked an additional 2 miles to raise a little extra cash. The walk started and finished at Tea Pot Island, Yalding where John ably assisted by the TLC Committee, family and friends had organised a Marquee with a Hog roast BBQ, children’s entertainment and live music. There was even a duck race on the river Medway to add to the fun.

The event was supported By the Provincial Grand Master of The Province of East Kent, Michael Robin Bailey together with his wife Sandra. Other members of the Provincial executive also took part in the walk. 28 local businesses sponsored the event, without which the magic couldn’t happen. Micky the Clown (W. Bro Mick Smith) entertained the children and the band ‘Goodbye Eric’ entertained the adults, free of charge.

The Wildlife heritage foundation supported the event by donating a generous raffle prize to visit the Big Cat Centre at Smarden.

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