Background

The Freemasons' Grand Charity was established in 1981, to continue a tradition of charitable support for vulnerable people that began in the very earliest days of organised Freemasonry. The activities of the Charity are funded by donations from Freemasons who are members of Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England(UGLE).

During its first 25-years The Freemasons' Grand Charity gave grants totalling over £72 million, helping thousands of individuals and hundreds of charities.

A short Introduction to Freemasonry

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal organisations and comprises a society of men concerned with  moral and spiritual values. For many years Freemasons have followed three guiding principles, which they believe represent a way to achieve higher standards in life:

• Brotherly Love:The qualities of kindness, understanding, tolerance and respect for the opinions of others

• Relief: Charitable giving and activities to assist the welfare of Freemasons and the community as a whole

• Truth: Aiming for a high moral standard

Establishment of The Freemasons' Grand Charity

The principle of relief was reflected in the establishment of a Committee of Charity in the early 18th Century.  The Committee helped to relieve the suffering of Masons and the dependants of deceased Masons with grants of up to 5 Guineas each. Freemasons also gave generously to many non-Masonic charities. In 1814 the Committee of Charity was incorporated with other charitable funds and became the Fund of Benevolence. 

In 1973, the Bagnall Report concluded an enquiry into the rationalisation of the five Masonic Charities that existed at the time to bring relief to the poor. Following the recommendations of the Report, The Grand Charity was registered in 1981. Established by UGLE as a separate organisation, but independent of it, the Charity took over the responsibilities of the Board of Benevolence, which for many years had handled the affairs of Grand Lodge's Fund of Benevolence. It combined this tradition of support for Masons with a remit to support non-Masonic charities benefiting the wider community. The Charity also has the unique responsibility of supporting the central Masonic Charities, when justifiable needs arise.                            

Masonic Relief Grants

In its first year of operation, The Charity gave more than £285,000 to help distressed individuals.  Every year more than 1,500 individuals are assisted with grants totalling over £3 million every year.

Non-Masonic Grants

In 1981, the first non-Masonic grant of £250,000 was awarded to the Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) to help implement a project to improve the assessment and treatment of people suffering from a severe speech impediment.  During the same year, the power of the President to approve an emergency grant for disaster relief was exercised for the first time following the Penlee Lifeboat tragedy. 

Hundreds of non-Masonic charities have benefited from the assistance of The Freemasons' Grand Charity.  In total, over £30 million has been donated to non-Masonic charities of all sizes.  This includes over £7 million for Hospice services as part of a special programme of support that began in 1984 and over £1.75 million for emergency disaster relief work worldwide. 

Relief Chest

In addition to its core grant-making activities, The Freemasons' Grand Charity also administers the Relief Chest Scheme. The service was introduced in 1986 and helps Lodges and other Masonic organisations to maximise the value of the funds they collect for charitable purposes, claiming tax relief on eligible donations and offering a favourable rate of interest. Over 3,800 Lodges, Chapters and other Masonic bodies currently participate in the scheme.

The Future

Today, the approach of Freemasons to realising the principle of relief continues to evolve. In 2008, The Freemasons' Grand Charity relocated to new accommodation shared with the other central Masonic charities. The move is intended to encourage closer working relationships, inspire opportunities for collaboration and realise significant cost-savings, leading to improvements in the services offered by each of the individual Charities.