Helping Freemasons and their Families Access the Support of the Charities

We all hope we will never face financial hardship or major health problems, need help supporting our children or require extra care in our old age. In reality thousands of people every year need a little extra assistance and a newly launched service is making sure that people who need that support are getting it. Known as Freemasonry Cares, it is a gateway to the help available to Freemasons, their families and dependants from the four central masonic charities.
     Anyone with a masonic connection who has a real financial, healthcare, or family need can access guidance and advice on the support available to them using a freephone telephone number 0800 035 60 90, email help@freemasonrycares.org or website www.freemasonrycares.org
     ‘The co-location of the charities at Freemasons’ Hall means we are now working closer together than ever before’ says Natasha Treweek of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity. Freemasonry Cares is the logical next step in the relationship and makes it really easy for people to get the information they need about the help available’.
     Natasha is part of the working group which has been developing Freemasonry Cares and hopes that the initiative will mean more people will be aware of the support available and encouraged to approach the charities for help.
     ‘We know that some people who could be assisted by the masonic charities are not asking us for help. A lot of the time this is either because they don’t know that the support is available or they think they won’t qualify and don’t pursue it. The central masonic charities are committed to addressing this problem and Freemasonry Cares means that anyone seeking support can access the services of all four charities via a joint telephone number, email address and website. We have also produced a leaflet explaining the support available, which we will be encouraging Freemasons to share with their family and fellow Freemasons.’

Elsie Smart

Elsie Smart is a perfect example of the type of person Freemasonry Cares is encouraging to make contact. A year after the death of her husband she was still struggling to pay back the cost of the funeral. When her boiler broke she knew her limited income would not be enough to cover the cost of a replacement so she decided to approach the central masonic charities for help. When she explained why she needed help Elsie was surprised that as well as paying for a replacement boiler, the charities were also able to assist with the outstanding expenses from her husband’s funeral and provide her with a grant towards some of her essential everyday living costs.
     Natasha says stories like this are only too familiar. ‘All of the charities can tell you about people who we might have been able to help much sooner if only they had realised we could do so. Asking for help can feel daunting but Freemasonry Cares means that people only need to think about two very simple questions. One, do you have a masonic connection? Two, do you have a financial, healthcare or family concern? If the answer is yes to both questions then you should contact us as we might be able to help. Even if we can’t resolve the problem we can direct you to sources of advice and the freephone number means you have nothing to lose by asking.’

Betty Walker – hip replacement and everyday living costs

Betty Walker is a widow and regularly takes her 3-year old grandson, Thomas, to the park to feed the ducks. Betty cherishes every moment of the time she spends with the active little boy because when he was first born she was virtually immobilised by an arthritic hip. As Thomas got older, not being able to play with him really upset Betty.
     One day whilst showing a friend some photographs of her grandchild she came across a picture of her late-husband in his masonic regalia. This event was to transform Betty’s life. It was then that she remembered he had told her that the Freemasons would always be there to look after her. Betty decided to contact the masonic charities to see if there was anything they could do to help. The masonic charities rapidly made arrangements for her long-awaited hip replacement to be carried out privately and for a financial grant to help with the cost of her household bills.

Emma Andrews

Emma Andrews could not have anticipated that she would need the help of the central masonic charities but the tragic loss of her husband to an unexpected heart attack meant her whole life was turned upside down. Emma’s first concern was the future welfare of her two young sons and the lodge Almoner was there to guide her through the application process. The charities now provide a termly maintenance allowance for both children and also pay for the football lessons which the boys consider the highlight of their week.
     Natasha says ‘In this instance the Almoner was on hand to ensure the Andrews family got the support they needed, but not everyone is so lucky.
     Freemasonry Cares complements the valuable role Almoners play, as sometimes when a problem occurs the lodge might not know about it for a whole range of reasons.
     It is also important to remember that the help available extends to needs that people might not even realise they have. For example, if you are looking to move to sheltered accommodation we can direct you to assistance or if your child has a special talent for music, sport or the performing arts then they might be eligible for a grant to help nurture that talent. Put simply, we want everyone to remember that if you or someone you know has a masonic connection and a financial, healthcare or family need then you should contact Freemasonry Cares on 0800 035 60 90.’

Paul and Jean Farmer – home repairs and stair lift

When floodwaters damaged the lower floor of Freemason Paul Farmer’s home he knew that even with insurance the cost of repairs would be a struggle. A friend mentioned that the masonic charities might be able to help, but he didn’t really think it was for him. He and his wife were comfortable enough and the charities were there for people with real problems. It was only when Jean started to suffer that Paul reluctantly sought help. Old-age meant Jean sometimes struggled to climb stairs and as they were now living in the upstairs rooms of their house this was a real problem. When explaining the devastating effects of the storm to the charities Paul mentioned his concerns for his wife’s welfare. He was delighted to discover that help was available not only with the cost of the repairs, but arrangements would also be made for a stair-lift to be installed in the repaired home

William George – respite care and care home resident

William George, a Freemason for over 40 years, loves the smell of the flowers in the gardens of the care home where he now resides. Although he has very poor sight and suffers from Parkinson’s disease walking in the gardens with his son Stuart brings back happy memories of years spent in the family garden. Until recently Stuart was his father’s primary carer so he welcomes the chance to spend quality time with his father. Caring for William meant Stuart working early shifts, before driving to his father’s home to cook his evening meal, help him bathe and undress for bed. Stuart was exhausted by this schedule and constantly worried how he would cope if his father’s situation deteriorated further. After reading about respite care Stuart contacted the charities and arrangements were made for a two-week respite break. This meant Stuart could get some much-needed rest and his first holiday in over five years. It also gave William the chance to experience life in a care home which helped him to make the decision to make the temporary stay a permanent one.

Names have been changed throughout to preserve privacy.

is a gateway to the help available to people with a Masonic connection and a real need.

The help available includes: Financial, for example: Household expenses and goods Home repairs and improvements Funeral costs Education support Emergency costs, arising from illness, death and redundancy Healthcare, for example: Operations Dental treatment Mobility equipment and home adaptations Hospital treatment Medication costs Nursing and dementia care Family, for example: Children’s maintenance and education costs Care homes and sheltered accommodation Respite care Benefits advice Support for children with talent in music, sport or the performing arts Student accommodation Counselling, therapy and advice for children Holidays for the elderly If you or someone you know needs assistance then contact Freemasonry Cares to discuss how they can help: By Freephone: 0800 035 6090 By email: help@freemasonrycares.org Via the web: www.freemasonrycares.org By mail: Freemasonry Cares, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ