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West Wales Mason
Siobhan McCarthy Grand Charity celebrates over £100 million in giving during last thirty years This year The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is celebrating thirty years of grant making. The Grand Charity took over the responsibilities of the Board of Benevolence in April 1980 and has since helped over 40,000 Freemasons and their dependants with financial relief grants. Other priorities have been assisting Masonic charities when necessary, as well as providing millions in funding for the wider community. Increase in Masonic giving over time In its first year of operation, financial relief grants were given to © Fotolia assist 645 Freemasons and their dependants. Thirty years later roughly three times as many people are assisted with financial grants on an annual basis. These grants are given to assist with unexpected needs or to help with essential daily living costs. The largest group of people to be assisted over the years have been widows and similar dependants. However, in recent © Fotolia years there has been an increase in assistance given to Freemasons who have found themselves in difficult situations, compounded by the recent economic decline. In total, over £50 million has been given in financial relief grants for Freemasons and their dependants since the Charity’s inception. A wealth of support for the wider community The Grand Charity is concerned with assisting charitable projects and services, which assist people in need. The Charity supports a wide range of causes, including: medical research, support for vulnerable © Fotolia
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