Around 600 vulnerable local children will receive warm coats, shoes and other essential clothing to make them ready for school, thanks to a grant from the Freemasons to the Yorkshire Children’s Charity.

The £60,000 grant will support the Charity’s Warm, Dry, and Ready to Learn Winter Essentials campaign, helping some of the most vulnerable young children across Yorkshire access the clothing and essentials they need to attend school and thrive.

The funding will contribute to a project that will deliver more than 4,600 essential items to children aged up to five years old living in poverty. The campaign provides vital winter essentials, including warm coats, shoes, hats, gloves, and other necessities that many families are unable to afford.

The impact of this support is significant. Schools participating in the programme report that 80 per cent see improved attendance as a direct result of children receiving appropriate clothing and footwear, helping them access consistent education and reducing barriers that can perpetuate cycles of poverty.

Children referred to the programme are identified by teachers as living in destitution, according to government guidelines. These children may have experienced one or more severe hardships, including sleeping rough, going without regular meals, living in homes without heating or lighting, lacking suitable clothing or footwear, or being unable to access basic toiletries.

Demand for the Warm, Dry, and Ready to Learn campaign has reached unprecedented levels. Last year, the organisation received applications on behalf of nearly 2,500 children from more than 1,000 families. Many of these children are also facing additional challenges, including homelessness, abuse, imprisonment of a family member, serious illness, disability, bereavement, or caring responsibilities at a young age.

All funding received from the Freemasons will be used directly to purchase essential items for the children. Over the course of two years, over 1000 winter bundles, including coats, shoes, and hat-and-glove sets, will be provided to children across the region.

The grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.