Over the last forty years, Freemasons have provided over £130 million to charities through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) whose work is funded solely through the generous donations of Freemasons, their families and friends.
Internationally we support victims of natural disasters such as cyclone Idai, or very recently Typhoon Rai which badly affected the Philippines.
Nationally we support many air ambulances throughout the country. Since the scheme was established in 2007, a total of £2.4m has been donated across England and Wales. Many of the helicopters now display the square and compass logo on their tail rotas.
We also support many national medical reseach projects such as Cystic Fibrosis, and many local hospices.
Last year the MCF distributed £12.3 million to Freemasons and their families and dependants, and £8.5 million to 414 non-masonic charities.
More information is on the MCF website here and an interactive map of all grants throughout the country is here.
The following charities in Sussex have recently been supported by the MCF:
St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Eastbourne £19,870
Kangaroos Mid Sussex £5,000
Chailey Heritage Centre £25,000 The grant will contribute to equipping and fitting-out a new building enabling sports such as disability football and boccia.
Demelza Hospice Care for Children £400
Audioactive £4,990
Fun in Action for Children £3,500
Martlets Hospice £1,682
Sussex Beacon £890
St Richard of Chichester Christian Care Association (Stonepillow) £5,000
Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity £4,500
The Bevern Trust £13,794 The grant will fund two portable Changing Places, enabling disabled people to have the privacy to use a toilet while out at events.
Hastings Furniture Service £10,000 Grant to fund the Workshop on Wheels project, reaching isolated and excluded people to enable them to learn new skills and socialise, thus reducing loneliness and ill health.
St Barnabas House £1,780
Leo House At Home £400
The Sussex Snowdrop Trust £800
St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester £1,486