Gordon Bourne Lodge No.9388 (Staines, Middlesex)

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is funded by Freemasons and their families and is continuing a commitment to charitable support that began nearly 300 years ago in the earliest days of organised Freemasonry.

Each year the Freemasons’ Grand Charity provides relief grants for hundreds of Freemasons and their dependents in financial need, as well as donating millions of pounds to national charities. Since 1980 they have made grants totalling over £100 million.

Since the late 18th Century, the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have helped relieve poverty and advance the education of the children of deceased and distressed Freemasons. This function and other wider terms of reference, were taken up by the Trust when in 1986, it took over the running of the former charities.

At the time of the amalgamation, the Trust had 749 beneficiaries on its books. The numbers have risen and in 2005 the Trust supported over 2,000 girls and boys at school, colleges and universities.

The RMBI has been caring for older Freemasons and their dependants for over 160 years. We operate 17 residential care homes across England and Wales offering high quality care. Many of our homes are registered for both residential and nursing care and a number offer specialist dementia care. All of our Homes can offer places to people with dementia, following as assessment of their needs.

The RMBI can also offer short-stay breaks, including respite care. These are helpful for both those living alone, and for families that need a little respite from the demands of caring for an older relative.

The Masonic Samaritan Fund is a charity funded by Freemasons and their families. We provide grants to eligible beneficiaries who have an identified health or care need and, faced with a long wait for treatment, care or support, are unable to afford their own private care. Details of the eligibility criteria, the application process and how to support our work are available on the website.

“The Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity’s aim is to bring an interactive fishing and countryside experience to people with Special Needs”. It achieves this by running fishing events, both coarse and fly and inviting participants with special needs to come and join in. This includes anyone over 11 with mental or physical disabilities, the disadvantaged or those who have suffered trauma.