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Charity and Freemasons
Charity has always been a core principle of Freemasonry and we’re proud of our 300-year history of helping those in need. Our members make an important contribution at a local, national and global level every year by giving both their time and money to make a real difference to a number of organisations and communities.
It’s why Freemasonry is one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing £51.1m to deserving causes in 2020 alone. Freemasons do not only donate money – more than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work is undertaken by our members in their communities every year.
Our members engage in many activities including community fundraising and volunteering, as well as a varied programme of events where spouses, partners and families are welcome. We’ve made substantial donations across the country to local air ambulances, blood bikes and provide a number of emergency response vehicles, including two super aerial platforms for the London Fire Brigade.
Freemasonry does a huge amount for medical research into treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a whole range of other conditions, including Alzheimer’s, by funding UK medical scientists to make ground breaking discoveries.
More recently, money raised has helped to support those affected by overseas disasters as well as those at home.
West Riding Masonic Charities Limited (W.R.M.C.L)
West Riding Masonic Charities Limited is the designated charity of the Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, to which West Vail Masoic Hall is governed.
It is a charity and company limited by guarantee, deriving all its funds from the voluntary contributions of Freemasons and their families within the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.
The Charity -
- Makes emergency grants to qualifying Freemasons their family and dependents.
- Provides Birthday and Christmas gifts to West Riding Beneficiaries.
- Works closely with the Provincial Almoner structure to provide the most appropriate assistance to those in need.
- Responds rapidly to provide emergency assistance for local disasters.
Our Care and Support Officers are available to provide assistance, advice and guidance to beneficiaries, clients and Lodge Almoners to maximise their support network.
W.R.M.C.L also supports
Teddies for Loving Care (TLC)
The Provincial Grand Master's Fund (PGM's Fund)
CHOICES
Teddies for Loving Care (TLC)
TLC is a National Masonic initiative aimed at comforting children in distress when visiting the Accident and Emergency department or Trauma centre of a hospital.
The scheme in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding is supported and funded by WRMCL and the Freemasons of the Province.
The scheme, launched in December 2008, was initially introduced at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and then rolled out to hospitals across the Province.
We now supply 19 children’s A & E departments and Trauma centres throughout Yorkshire, West Riding. At the discretion of the nursing staff, a teddy is given to a child, assisting staff to relax and reassure that child in what for them is a very frightening and unfamiliar environment. This calmer state enables nursing staff to make a quicker diagnosis and administer treatment.
Children take the Teddy home (complete with sticking plaster, plaster cast or injections!)
We regularly receive letters of thanks from parents, grandparents and nursing staff on how a TLC Teddy has helped calm a traumatised child.
‘Teddies for Loving Care’ has been an outstanding Masonic success, with more than 200,000 teddies already distributed throughout Yorkshire, West Riding and over two million Nationally.
Learn More
If you would like to know more about TLC, or even get involved in this wonderful charity initiative, please find out more below.
West Riding Community Fund
New structure
Local level application process
Local level application process
The West Riding Community Fund was launched in 2023 to replace The Provincial Grand Masters Fund and its aim is to provide grants to non-masonic charities and charitable organisations within our Province.
Local level application process
Local level application process
Local level application process
It was set up to be a Lodge, or Chapter driven application and grant process. This was to ensure that the Freemasons of Yorkshire West Riding who donated the funds, also had a hand in saying where they should be spent.
Monor Grants
Monor Grants
Monor Grants
The Minor Grants have continued and are currently up to a maximum of £5,000, whereas Major Grants may far exceed that threshold.
Major Grants
Monor Grants
Monor Grants
In its early years, grants were generally small in value. However, in 2008 the scheme was modified to enable more substantial grants to be made by the introduction of the Major Grant scheme.