Charitable Support
In the UK Freemasons' Lodges together comprise one of the largest charitable givers in the country. Freemasons primarily raise charitable funds from their own members.
Lodge members contribute to the national Freemasons' Charity while the Lodge also contributes to many local charities.
The national charity donates very significant sums to a variety of causes such as to air ambulances, blood bikes and to purchase specialist fire fighting equipment. Freemasonry does a huge amount for medical research into treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a whole range of other conditions, including Alzheimer's, by funding UK medical scientists to make ground breaking discoveries.
Dorset Freemasons together with other Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have awarded more than £4.7m through four Covid-19 relief programmes, focusing on community support, food support, domestic abuse, homelessness and mental health.
To support the community, Freemasons also worked 18 million hours as volunteers in a range of different areas where there was a need, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk and organising care packages, as well as producing scrubs, PPE and hand sanitiser.
More recently, money raised has helped to support those affected by overseas disasters such as the invasion of Ukraine. The national Freemason's charity has donated £50,000 to the British Red Cross to support its work with Ukrainian refugees. In addition, many Freemasons are offering further support, both financially and through donating much needed supplies.
Each Freemason's Lodge also selects local charities to support. In recent years local charities supported by Blandford Freemasons have included:
Age Concern Blandford
Amy Adams Trust
Blandford Civic Society
Blandford Corn Exchange Restoration Project
Blandford Costume Museum
Blandford Museum
Blandford Opportunities Group
Blandford Read Easy
Blandford Youth Club
Blandford Youth & Community Centre
Charlton Marshall Village Hall
Disability Action Group N. Dorset
Diverse Ability
Dorset Doc Bike
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
Friends of Blandford Community Hospital
Julia's House
Margaret Green Riding for the Disabled
Mosaic
Treads