Twenty-six charities across England and Wales have received a share of £1.6 million following the first round of applications to the Freemasons’ Charity’s Community Fund.

The Community Fund forms part of a major new commitment by the Freemasons’ Charity, which has allocated £2 million a year to the initiative for the next five years. The programme aims to help Provinces build stronger relationships with local charities while creating new opportunities for Freemasons to support community projects through volunteering, fundraising and practical assistance.

The programme has made a strong start, attracting 35 applications from 36 Provinces in its inaugural year. Following assessment by the Community Fund decision panel, funding was awarded to 26 charities delivering a wide range of services to local communities.

Among the successful applications is pilot between the Province of Hertfordshire and Felix, London’s largest food redistribution charity. The grant funded a variety of fresh food for vulnerable local people to collect free of charge, while local Freemasons, joined by the Grand Secretary, volunteered to manage distribution on the day.

In Nottinghamshire, Community Fund support has been awarded to the county’s Stop the Bleed campaign, which aims to install life-saving bleed control kits in communities and provide emergency training that could help save lives following serious trauma incidents. The initiative brings together local Freemasons, emergency responders and community partners to improve public safety and preparedness.

Funding has also been provided towards a new Maggie’s Centre at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge to provide cancer care, which will be matched by seven local Provinces.

A key aim of the Community Fund is to encourage lasting partnerships between Freemasons and the charities they support. Successful projects demonstrated how local Freemasons can contribute to initiatives beyond financial support alone.

Of the 25 successful projects, 23 included volunteering opportunities for Freemasons, while four will make use of Masonic buildings to help deliver services to beneficiaries. In addition, ten projects secured match funding from their Province, increasing the value of support available to local communities.

The programme is also helping to raise awareness of the contribution Freemasons make to society. Fourteen projects will feature plaques or signs recognising the support received, while others include branded equipment, clothing and vehicles that will showcase the partnership between Freemasonry and local charities.

The Community Fund, which was established in support of the United Grand Lodge of England’s community engagement strategic pillar, helps Provinces develop meaningful relationships with organisations working to address local needs.

Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the Freemasons’ Charity said: “We were delighted by both the number and quality of applications received in the first year of the Community Fund. Provinces clearly embraced the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships with local charities, creating projects that combine funding with volunteering and community engagement. These grants will support a diverse range of initiatives that are making a real difference in communities across England and Wales. We look forward to receiving the next round of applications and helping even more charities and communities benefit from this important programme in the years ahead.”

To measure the impact of the programme, successful Provinces will provide six-month updates detailing volunteer involvement, additional support provided to the charity, publicity generated by the project and plans for future collaboration.

The decision panel praised the enthusiasm shown by Provinces and the high quality of applications received during the programme’s first year and look forward to reviewing the second round which is open for applications until Sunday, 26 July 2026.

Grants Awarded

In addition to the grants listed above, the Community Fund provided matched funding towards a new Maggie’s cancer care centre in Cambridge and financial support for Felix and The Not Forgotten Association.