8 minute read
Charity and the Craft
The cost of living: a helping hand
Support for Freemasons and their families in adversity
Just as we were starting to recover financially and emotionally from the pandemic, we were hit with another challenge: the rise in the cost of living. Since the start of this crisis, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity) has received an increasing number of enquiries about financial and mental health support.
For most people, the crisis means looking at household budgets and cutting back wherever they can. However, for some, it means not having enough money to put food on the table or heat their homes. The price of basic needs such as heating and food are continuing to increase, and people are undoubtedly thinking about what they can do to get through this difficult period.
The MCF can help Freemasons and their family members access the statutory support they are entitled to, as well as talk about any MCF support available for them.
MCF adviser Caroline Wales says, ‘A lot of people reaching out for help are unaware of the state benefits they may be entitled to, so we help them to complete a full benefits check and any applications.
‘I spoke to a woman whose husband died after she had cared for him for 10 years. Her caring role was so time-consuming that she hadn’t considered or been aware of the benefits she could claim and which she desperately needed when the cost of living started to rise. Thankfully, we have helped her access Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and pension credit, which she was entitled to all along.’
Freemasons and their family members can also get help for financial or personal challenges, as well as physical or mental health conditions, by applying for an MCF grant. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the MCF team can help with the application process and provide the support needed.
Looking for financial support during the cost-of-living crisis? Scan the QR code or visit mcf.org.uk/
FMT60/Crisis
Mental wellbeing
Another issue that the cost-of-living crisis has highlighted is debt, with 4.6 million low-income households in the UK behind on at least one bill. Dealing with money worries as well as poor mental health can feel like a losing battle. Mental illness often makes it harder to earn and manage money, and debt can trigger or worsen conditions such as anxiety, depression and stress. It’s unsurprising that one in two adults with debt also has a mental illness.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 77 per cent of adults in the UK reported feeling very or somewhat worried about the rising costs of living. For many, worry and fear have quickly led to depression, stress and anxiety.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) adviser Caroline Wales says, ‘There’s no doubt that the recent spike in mental health issues is linked to the cost of living; more than 90 per cent of people calling for support have expressed feelings of anxiety about the current climate. There has been a significant increase in referrals to our free counselling service, and some financial support cases have even been re-categorised as safeguarding cases.’
If a Freemason or their close family members are experiencing low mood, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress or any other conditions affecting their
mental wellbeing, they can reach out to the MCF for support. It offers an independent team of professional counsellors and therapists who are registered and accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
To find out more about the MCF’s mental health support, scan the code or visit
mcf.org.uk/FMT60/ mentalhealth
Impacting communities
The Masonic Charitable Foundation’s (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity) sixth Impact Report celebrates the end of its fi ve-year strategy and details the work of the 2021/22 fi nancial year
In the years since the MCF was established, it has awarded more than £100m in grants on behalf of Freemasonry – or £60,000 per day.
During 2021/22, new projects have been launched, new partnerships established and the MCF has responded to national and global events, such as the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and communities.
Towards the end of the 2021-2022 fi nancial year, it responded to the growing humanitarian and refugee crisis in Ukraine. Within days of the invasion, the MCF awarded a £50,000 grant to the British Red Cross and launched a fundraising appeal within Freemasonry that raised £500,000 in only a few days. This fund is now being allocated to support aid agencies working in the affected areas, as well as initiatives and projects in England and Wales.
Behind those impressive numbers, there are stories of real people being helped during challenging times. Take Adrian, for example, who had a heart attack that left him unable to work. He was supported by the MCF and can now focus on his recovery.
Meanwhile, Carers in Bedfordshire, a charity that helps unpaid carers of all ages in the area, also received a grant from the MCF to provide support for its important work.
The headlines
£19.6m of charitable support – funded entirely by Freemasons, their families and friends – was awarded by the MCF through 5,700 grants to help the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society. The MCF funded more than 726 local and national charities as well as 3,281 disadvantaged individuals and families. £234,000 was given immediately in response to nine natural disasters.
To read the full report, scan the QR code below or visit impact.mcf.org.uk/FMT60
£15.6M £15.6M
The money £15.6m was donated by Freemasons, their families and friends, including £6.4m of income coming from festival appeals and £4.7m gratefully received from gifts in wills.
Read more on MCF outgoings: scan the QR code below or visit impact.mcf.org.uk/ FMT60/Financial
Helping your local community
Through the MCF, Freemasonry supported the health, care and wellbeing, financial stability and education of disadvantaged people across England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and internationally. These included 837 grants to 505 children and young people to ensure they had access to the same educational opportunities as their peers. 2,485 grants went to 1,741 families and individuals struggling with the cost of everyday living. 1,580 grants were provided to 1,035 people to help them live healthier and more independent lives and 308 people accessed the MCF’s free and confidential counselling service.
See how the MCF has helped your Province: scan the QR code below or visit
impact.mcf.org.uk/FMT60/Community
Five years of impact
This year marks the end of the MCF’s five-year strategy period – and it couldn’t be prouder of everything that has been achieved. In the past five years, more than 31,000 grants were awarded to households, totalling over £66m. More than 8,000 households were supported, including 1,200 children and 3,700 people over the age of 66. The MCF is now moving to a new and exciting phase and you will hear about future plans soon.
Learn more about the MCF five years’ impact: scan the QR code below or visit impact.mcf.org.uk/FMT60/Impact
Heavy rains and floods devastated Pakistan and left 33 million people in crisis
Pakistan flood victims receive £30,000 in relief
Donations enabled the purchase of clean drinking water and tents for families in need
The many thousands of people who have had their lives devastated by the unprecedented floods in Pakistan are being given emergency relief thanks to a grant of £30,000 to the British Red Cross and UNICEF from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity).
More than a thousand people, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives in the disaster, and Freemasonry, through the MCF, responded by partnering with the British Red Cross and UNICEF to provide emergency relief to the survivors.
An estimated 33 million people from three of the country’s four provinces have been affected by heavy rain and floods, many of them losing everything.
The victims are some of the most vulnerable people in the world, including 400,000 refugees from Afghanistan.
Luke Tredget, head of emergencies at the British Red Cross, said, ‘We’re very grateful for this generous grant. It will allow us to provide immediate emergency relief to people who are in desperate need. This disaster has devastated vast areas of the country and left millions of people in urgent need of help.’
In addition to the loss of life and destruction of homes and property, millions have lost their livelihoods. Some 4.5 million acres of crops have been destroyed and more than one million livestock have been killed.
UNICEF and the British Red Cross will each receive £15,000 from the MCF for their relief efforts. This could provide clean drinking water, emergency food relief for hundreds of households, tents to provide basic shelter or mosquito nets to protect flood survivors from malaria and dengue.
‘I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help UNICEF and the British Red Cross with their relief effort in Pakistan,’ said MCF Chief Executive Les Hutchinson. ‘This is the most terrible situation for millions of people and I’m proud that Freemasons are providing help and support to charities working on the ground with those affected.’
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